Robert Vande Voorde

Robert Vande Voorde was born to Edmond and Martha (Van Hoecke) Vande Voorde on February 24, 1935 on a farm near Holland, Minnesota where he was raised in his younger years and attended country school District 52. In 1943, he moved with his family to a farm near Cazenovia, Minnesota where he continued his education in Verdi, Minnesota. Then, in 1948, they moved to a different farm near Cazenovia and he continued his education at Pipestone High School in Pipestone, Minnesota where he was known as “Caz”. After his graduation in 1954, he began working on the family farm. On June 18, 1960, he was united in marriage to Joan Schurman at St. Leo Catholic Church in Pipestone. Following their marriage, they lived on the family farm where Bob raised dairy and beef cattle. He also raised corn, beans and alfalfa. He always enjoyed watching the deer come on to the farm. During this time, he began working at the golf course in Flandreau, South Dakota where he helped with the mowing. In 2004, he retired from farming; and the following year, he and Joan moved into Holland. In August, 2008, Bob was having health problems and had to start undergoing kidney dialysis. Then, on Thursday, January 6, 2011, he entered the Pipestone County Hospice House where he died on Wednesday, January 12, 2011 at the age of 75 years, ten months and 18 days.

Bob was a member of St. Leo Catholic Church in Pipestone. He liked to sing and play country western songs on his guitar. He enjoyed trap shooting and won many trophies. For several years, he bowled on a league with his family. He also enjoyed Rolle Bolle. He was an expert at roller skating and taught many children how to skate at the Hiawatha Roller Rink. He was never known to complain, even though he suffered with diabetes most of his life.

He is lovingly remembered by his wife, Joan Vande Voorde of Holland, Minnesota; one brother, Louis Vande Voorde and his wife Carol of Vancouver, Washington; two sisters, Lorraine Halbersma and her husband John of Pipestone, Minnesota, and Rose Schlenker and her husband Carl of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; four sisters-in-law, Shirley Vande Voorde of Pipestone, Minnesota, Gertrude Duffert and her special friend Dallas Petersen of Flandreau, South Dakota, Kathryn Kortlever and her husband Roland of Holland, Minnesota, and Joyce Becker of Dubuque, Iowa; many nieces and nephews; and his very special friends, Daryl and Sue Buffington and their sons Dan and David of Holland, Minnesota. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Ramie.