Thirteenth Generation

143. Erwin Dean VANDERVORT (~) was born on 21 May 1910 in Augusta, Eau Claire County, WI.^27,39,92,204 He appeared in the census in 1920 in Vancouver, Clark County, WA.⁹¹ He appeared in the census in 1930 in St. Helens, Columbia County, OR.⁹² Erwin died on 26 June 2005 at the age of 95 in Vancouver, Clark County, WA.^57,205

Obituary Notes: "Erwin Dean Vandervort. A graveside service will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 6, 2005, in Park Hill Cemetery in Vancouver for Erwin Dean Vandervort, who died June 26 at age 95.

Mr. Vandervort was born May 21, 1910, in Augusta, Wis., and lived in the Portland area most of his life. He was a retired meatcutter. In 1934, he married Madeline Lamb; she died May 7. Survivors include his son, David; daughter, Arlene Young; two grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren."

Newspaper Tribute Notes: "In loving memory of Erwin Dean Vandervort, born on May 21, 1910, in Augusta, Wis. He was the youngest of five children and the last surviving sibling. He passed away peacefully, June 26 at the age of 95, with his family around him.

Erwin moved to Vancouver, Wash., at the age of 10. Then the family moved to St. Helens, where he attended grade school and high school. After graduating, he moved to Portland as an adult, to begin his life. He married Madeline in 1934. His son, David, was born in 1937, followed by his daughter, Arlene, in 1940.

Erwin lost his loving wife, Madeline, on May 7, 2005, after 70 years of marriage. He is survived by his son, David Erwin, of Portland, and daughter, Arlend Young, of La Pine. His grandson, John Joseph Young, died in 1984. Erwin was also the great-grandfather to Michelle Slate, currently teaching English in Japan, Mrs. Monica Looman-Nelson, who is attending OSU, Brock DeLetts, age 8 and Blair DeLetts, age 4.

Erwin worked as an electrician's assistant during World War II in the shipyards at Swan Island. After the war he went back to meat cutting, working at the just-beginning Fred Meyer in the downtown 5th Avenue store; Bennett's Grocery & Meat Market; Ray Rauscher's Market; Gartner Meat Market; and, finally, retiring from the Big C Store in 1975.

His greatest joy was being part of the Volunteer Fire Department, District 13, at 60th and NE Going. He was very skilled with his hands, making beautiful lighted Christmas tree wall hangings out of found jewelry, and cleaning up used trains for the Toy and Joy during the lean years after the war. Erwin was always happiest when making something down in his basement workshop. Nothing ever went to waste. There was always another use for the item.

Erwin was a fun and joyful man to be around and knew how to bring excitement to those around him. He never had a cross word or a mean thought about anything. His life was filled with his family and bringing up his son and daughter.

We are all going to miss Dad's presence in our lives, but we do realize we had him for nearly a century. And you can't ask for much more out of life than to live through so many life-changing times. From watching airplanes come into their own and on to the world of television and computers.

Now it is time for him to join his loving wife, Madeline, and begin a new life with the angels."

. He was buried on 6 July 2005 in Vancouver, Clark County, WA.⁵⁷

Erwin Dean VANDERVORT (~) and Madeline Letetia LAMB were married on 24 October 1935.³⁹ Madeline Letetia LAMB was born on 24 October 1915 in Waterloo, Black Hawk County, IA.⁵⁷ She died on 7 May 2005 at the age of 89 in Vancouver, Clark County, WA.⁵⁷

Obituary Notes: " Madeline L. Vandervort October 24, 1915 - May 7, 2005. Madeline Letitia Lamb was born Oct. 24, 1915, in Waterloo, Iowa, and was the youngest of five children. Madeline passed away peacefully in the company of her family on May 7, 2005. A graveside service will be held at Parkhill Cemetery in Vancouver, Wash., 10:00 a.m., Saturday, May 14, 2005.

Madeline moved from Waterloo, Iowa, to Portland, at the age of five. Her husband, Erwin Dean, moved from Augusta, Wisc., to St. Helen's, at age eight. The most amazing thing is Waterloo and Augusta are only 70 miles apart, and yet they didn't meet until moving West. Mom and Dad had 70 years of special love together. Erwin is now 94 years old and will be lost without his beloved Madeline.

Madeline is survived by her husband, Erwin Dean; her son, David Erwin Vandervort, and her daughter, Mrs. Arlene Gay Young. She is the grandmother to David and Jan's daughter, Mrs. Kim DeLetts, and Jack and Arlene's daughter, Mrs. Carol Ann Slate. Madeline was predeceased by her grandson, John Joseph Young. She is also the great-grandmother to Michelle Slate, currently teaching English in Japan, Mrs. Monica Looman-Nelson, who is attending OSU, Brock Adam DeLetts, seven years old and Blair Andrea DeLetts, four years old.

Madeline's greatest joy, besides raising her family, were the 25 years she spent with her volunteer group at Portland Providence Medical Center making quilts for every child admitted, and tray favors for each holiday. The group tried to make each patient feel special as they worked tirelessly three to four days each week. We will never know the joy she brought to each person whose life she touched. We are all going to miss Mom's presence in our lives, but realize we had her for a long, long time. Now it's time for Mom to rest with the angels."

Published in The Oregonian on 5/14/2005. She was buried on 14 May 2005 in Vancouver, Clark County, WA.⁵⁷

Erwin Dean VANDERVORT (~) and Madeline Letetia LAMB had the following children: