Joseph G. Vanderwal

Joseph G. Vanderwal, 90, Wheaton, MN, died Thursday, May 31, 2012, at Sanford Hospital in Fargo, ND.
Funeral services were Monday, June 4, at 11:00 a.m. at Ave Maria Catholic Church in Wheaton with Father Joe Vandeberg officiating. Music was provided by organist Cindy Sanasack and the church choir.
Burial was in the St. Peter's Cemetery, Dumont.  Pallbearers were Rod, Mark and Gary Simonson, Mike, Paul, and John Gaulrapp, Jay, Butch, and Joel Ludowese, and Mike Shuckhart.
Visitation was Monday one hour prior to the service at the church.
Joseph George Vanderwal was born June 4, 1921, at the family farmstead in rural Dumont to Leonard and Catherine (Vanderwal) Vanderwal. He was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic faith in Dumont. Joseph attended rural school through eighth grade near the family farm. He hauled water by wagon to the school every day. After finishing school, he worked on the family farm.
On January 14, 1953, Joe married Ann Vathroder at Collis, MN. They began farming in rural Dumont. Thomas Mark joined their family in 1959 and Joanne Mae in 1961. In 1990, Joe and Ann retired from farming and moved to Wheaton. Ann passed away February 25, 2010. Joe continued to reside in Wheaton.
Joe's hobbies included tinkering, fixing, inventing, welding and "putzing" with things. Joe loved family time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Just like watching his crops grow, Joe enjoyed watching his family grow. He enjoyed going up north fishing in the Park Rapids Area. He caught his limit of walleyes on his 89th birthday. In his later years, Joe enjoyed spending weekends with his daughter, Joni.
Survivors include his son, Tom (Sue) Vanderwal of Park Rapids, MN; daughter, Joni Butterfield of Grand Forks, ND; 7 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Edna Ludowese of Stillwater, MN.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Ann; and two sisters, Helen Shuckhart and Mary Borden.