Stanley Vanderloo , 90, of Merrill, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Monday, May 18, 2020.
Graveside service will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 23, 2020 at Hillside Cemetery in Merrill, Iowa. Military honors will be provided by the Oleson-Halweg American Legion Post 125 of Merrill. The public is invited to attend the graveside service while practicing social distancing as mandated by state and federal guidelines due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A public funeral procession will be leaving the Rexwinkel Funeral Home on Saturday, May 23, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. A public viewing, with no family present, limited to 10 people practicing social distancing, will be held on Friday, May 22, 2020 from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Le Mars. Arrangements are with the Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Le Mars. Expressions of sympathy can be extended to the family through www.rexwinkelfh.com .
Stanley Glen Vanderloo was born February 12, 1930 in Sioux City, Iowa, the son of Clarence "CJ" and Irene (Junck) Vanderloo. He attended country school before moving to Merrill. He graduated from Merrill High School in 1948. Following his schooling, he worked on the railroad in Merrill and helped area farmers.
He enlisted in the United States Air Force on January 9, 1951. He served his country as a mechanic during the Korean Conflict while stationed in Germany. He was also a guinea pig for testing purposes at the atomic bomb testing site in Yucca Flats, NV. He attained the rank of Staff Sgt. Following his honorable discharge on January 8, 1955, he returned to Merrill and went to work as a mechanic in Sioux City.
He was united in marriage to Geraldine White on September 21, 1963 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Merrill. After working as a mechanic, he went to work for the Packing houses in Sioux City as a meat cutter until his retirement. Following retirement, he worked at the stained-glass shop in Merrill. Geraldine passed away March 9, 2008.
Stanley was a member of the Oleson-Halweg American Legion Post 125 where he was Past Commander. One of his proudest trips was on the Midwest Honor Flight to Washington, DC on May 7, 2019. He and Geraldine enjoyed attending sprint car races. He enjoyed many fishing trips, playing cards, woodworking, and tending to his vegetable and flower gardens. He entertained others and had fun doing it!
Survivors include his daughter, Deb Gillaspie of Merrill; two grandsons: Ryan Gillaspie (Robbie Korthals of Rock Rapids, IA) of Merrill, IA, and his daughter, Brylee, and Adam (Becca) Gillaspie of Nehawka, NE, and their children, Eli, Wayland Stanley, Abram, and Lawson; his siblings: Virgil (Norma) Vanderloo of Waterloo, IA, Bonnie (Maurice) Blum of Merrill, IA, Curt (Marlene) Vanderloo of Merrill, IA, and Glenda Donlin of Merrill, IA; his in laws: Carol Vanderloo of Merrill, IA, Wendel Blakenburg of Norwalk, IA, Pat Vanderloo of Sioux City, IA, and Kenny White of Merrill, IA; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, CJ and Irene Vanderloo; his wife, Geraldine Vanderloo; his siblings: Keith Vanderloo, Rich Vanderloo, and Janice Blakenburg; his in laws: Linda White, Don Donlin, James White, and Martin (Ethel) White; and a nephew, Michael White.
