Joe W. VanBemmel, 75, passed away from heart complications on Dec. 29, 2012.
Joe was born May 23, 1937, to Johanas and Mary VanBemmel in Manhattan. Joe grew up in Manhattan with his family until May 23, 1947, when they moved to Eureka. He went to school through the seventh grade, and he then went to work at Columbus Clark in Eureka stacking ties.
He worked in the lumber industry his whole life, which included Osler brothers Mill, Kennedy Stevens Mill, both in Eureka, then C and C Plywood of Kalispell and lastly, Plum Creek Plywood, where he retired from in 2004.
He married his first wife, Sharleen Nielson, on July 3, 1959, and they had four children together. They lived in Eureka until she passed away in November 1967.
After mutual losses of their spouses, Joe and Sue Rankin Bjornrud merged their families on Oct. 16, 1969, joining seven children plus one child between the two of them in 1970. After the merger of the families they lived in a log house on Iowa Flats in Eureka.
Joe enjoyed camping, riding his four-wheeler, his Model A, vacationing with his family in Las Vegas, spending time with his family, coffee with his many friends, and crafts with his granddaughter Alyssa.
He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Sharleen; two brothers, David and Danny; and son, Albert Bjornrud.
Joe is survived by his wife, Sue, at their home in Kalispell; daughter, Dorothy Bates of Anchorage, Alaska, son Roy Bjornrud of Kalispell, son Rick VanBemmel and wife Carol of Massena, Iowa, daughter Barb Penney and husband Kurt of Kalispell, daughter Deb Peterson and husband Ray of Eureka, daughter Kathy VanBemmel and husband Reid McFarland of Kalispell, and daughter Bobbie Conrad and husband Todd of Kalispell; daughter-in-law, Teri Bjornrud, of Kalispell; brother, Albert "Abe," and wife, Geraldine VanBemmel, of Eureka; sister, Hope Ivers, of Great Falls; sister, Sherry Sterner, of Kalispell; brother, Bob, and wife, Jennie VanBemmel, of Exira, Iowa; sister, Marie, and husband, Eldon Heidi, of Hillsboro, Wis.; numerous nieces, nephews, grand- and great-grandchildren.
Visitation for Joe will be held from 3 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 3, at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home. Private burial will be held by family. Celebration of life services will be held at 3 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 4, At Trinity Lutheran Church.
Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family. Friends are encouraged to visit the website, www.buffalohillfh.com, to leave notes of condolence.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Joe Vanbemmel, please visit our flower store.
Joe was born May 23, 1937, to Johanas and Mary VanBemmel in Manhattan. Joe grew up in Manhattan with his family until May 23, 1947, when they moved to Eureka. He went to school through the seventh grade, and he then went to work at Columbus Clark in Eureka stacking ties.
He worked in the lumber industry his whole life, which included Osler brothers Mill, Kennedy Stevens Mill, both in Eureka, then C and C Plywood of Kalispell and lastly, Plum Creek Plywood, where he retired from in 2004.
He married his first wife, Sharleen Nielson, on July 3, 1959, and they had four children together. They lived in Eureka until she passed away in November 1967.
After mutual losses of their spouses, Joe and Sue Rankin Bjornrud merged their families on Oct. 16, 1969, joining seven children plus one child between the two of them in 1970. After the merger of the families they lived in a log house on Iowa Flats in Eureka.
Joe enjoyed camping, riding his four-wheeler, his Model A, vacationing with his family in Las Vegas, spending time with his family, coffee with his many friends, and crafts with his granddaughter Alyssa.
He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Sharleen; two brothers, David and Danny; and son, Albert Bjornrud.
Joe is survived by his wife, Sue, at their home in Kalispell; daughter, Dorothy Bates of Anchorage, Alaska, son Roy Bjornrud of Kalispell, son Rick VanBemmel and wife Carol of Massena, Iowa, daughter Barb Penney and husband Kurt of Kalispell, daughter Deb Peterson and husband Ray of Eureka, daughter Kathy VanBemmel and husband Reid McFarland of Kalispell, and daughter Bobbie Conrad and husband Todd of Kalispell; daughter-in-law, Teri Bjornrud, of Kalispell; brother, Albert "Abe," and wife, Geraldine VanBemmel, of Eureka; sister, Hope Ivers, of Great Falls; sister, Sherry Sterner, of Kalispell; brother, Bob, and wife, Jennie VanBemmel, of Exira, Iowa; sister, Marie, and husband, Eldon Heidi, of Hillsboro, Wis.; numerous nieces, nephews, grand- and great-grandchildren.
Visitation for Joe will be held from 3 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 3, at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home. Private burial will be held by family. Celebration of life services will be held at 3 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 4, At Trinity Lutheran Church.
Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family. Friends are encouraged to visit the website, www.buffalohillfh.com, to leave notes of condolence.