Joe Vanderheiden, age 71, of Carroll, died Thursday, February 19, 2015 in Gann Valley, South Dakota.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, February 28, 2015 at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Fr. Timothy Schott. Music will by Kate Cuddy and the St. Lawrence Choir with Cindy Loneman, and Steve and Marcy Anderson as cantors. Lector will be Mike Foley. Eucharistic Ministers will be Mike Foley, and Mary Anne Lahr. Gift Bearers will be Jean Conway, B-B Rhody, and Lynn Poppens. Casket bearers will be James Vanderheiden Jr., Curtis Vanderheiden, Devin Vanderheiden, Dezeray Vanderheiden, Tia Pawlowski, Kimberly Millard, Gabrielle Jimenez, Teanna Pawlowski, Ashley Millard, Kyra Jimenez, Taya Pawlowski, and Caleb Vanderheiden. Burial will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carroll. The Carroll Emergency Medical Services will form an honor guard for the funeral mass.
Friends may call at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Carroll after 3 p.m. Friday, where there will be a Christian Wake Service at 6 p.m.
The casket will be moved to St. Lawrence Church at 9 a.m. Saturday where visitation will resume until the time of the funeral mass.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be left at the church to be directed to the Catholic Charities or the Family Resource Center.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll, and online condolences may be left for Joe’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Joe was born on October 30, 1943 in Pontiac, Michigan the son of Ray and Leonella (Hinners) Vanderheiden. The family moved back to Carroll when Joe was two where he lived the rest of his life except for eight months when they lived in New Hampton, Iowa. Joe graduated from Kuemper Catholic High School in 1961, and later attended photography school in Missouri. Joe was united in marriage to Catherine Snyder on June 15, 1963 at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Carroll, with Cathe’s uncle Fr. Ray Snyder officiating.
Over the years Joe held many jobs, since 1960 he worked as a photographer, Carroll County for 33 years, Culligan for two years, Bob’s Sport Center for four years, and taught CPR and First Aid all over the state during his life. Joe was the first person inducted into the Iowa E.M.S. Association Hall of Fame in 1996. One of Joe’s most prevalent jobs was being one of Santa’s faithful helpers since 1968.
Joe was active in the community. He was a Boy Scout troop leader, helped coached Little League, and along with his wife Cathe he was an assistant Girl Scout Leader. Joe enjoyed life to the fullest. Joe and Cathe received the Humanitarian Award in 1994. Joe was a member of St. Lawrence Parish in Carroll and the Carroll Knights of Columbus.
Left to celebrate Joe’s life are his wife: Cathe Vanderheiden of Carroll; his children: Jan (Ramiro) Jimenez of Mahopac, NY, Dan (Monica) Vanderheiden of Carroll, James (Mary Ann) Vanderheiden of Omaha, NE, and Christine (Tina and Lee) Pawlowski of Gann Valley, SD; he is also survived by Joe (Mary) Millard, B-B (Doug) Rhody, Jean (Tom) Conway, and Lynn (Gordy) Poppens, and many more foster children; many grandchildren; one great-grandchild, Nathaniel.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, twin boys in infancy, and six siblings.
