Dr. Robert D. Vander Roest

VANDER ROEST, Dr. Robert D.
Kalamazoo Passed away Wednesday, December 19, 2007 at his home. Bob was born June 21, 1927 in Kalamazoo, the son of Richard and Emma Stuut Vander Roest and had been a lifelong resident of Kalamazoo. He was an active member of Southridge and Bethany Reformed Churches, where he served on many church boards and the councils. During WW II, Bob served his country in the United States Army. He graduated from the University of Michigan Dental School in 1954 and was in private practice from 1954 until his retirement in 1993. Bob was a member of the Portage Rotary Club, served on the Portage Public School Board as a member and as it?s president, was a board member of the Kalamazoo Valley Intermediate School District KRESA and served on numerous community service boards. Together with his wife, Ruth, they were both very active in the Association for Retarded Citizens on the Kalamazoo, state and national level to promote better opportunities for the developmentally disabled population. Bob was preceded in death by his parents; and his loving wife, the former Ruth Ann Zwart in 1997. He is survived by his children, Lynn Vander Roest of Kalamazoo, Karen Moss of Battle Creek, Julie Bernie Bedell of Brighton and Steven Carol Vander Roest of Dexter; 8 grandchildren; a brother, Larry Vander Roest of Battle Creek; and a sister, Lois Les Keith of Plainwell; nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be conducted on Saturday at 1:00 PM in the Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Portage Chapel, 411 E. Centre Ave. with Rev. Fritz Kruithof officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday from 2-4 and 6-8 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial donations be given to the MRC Industries, Inc., Residential Opportunities Inc. or the Ruth A. VanderRoest Endowment Fund in care of the Kalamazoo Foundation. www.langelands.com 343-1508