Vernon Van Der Kamp left this life on Jan. 18, 2019, in Sierra Vista, AZ at the age of 91 years and seven months. He was born June 18, 1927, to Paul and Gertie Van Der Kamp into a family of three brothers and three sisters. He worked with his father on the family farm and dairy. In 1946, he married Betty DeJong in the Little Brown Church in the Vale in Nashua. Vern farmed in Iowa for 14 years with farms in Sully, Prairie City, Goodell, Hayfield, and Britt. During their time in Iowa, Vern and Betty had three children, Carl, Craig, and Lynne. In 1960, tired of Iowa’s cold winters, Vern moved the family to Sacramento, CA. He worked for Foremost Dairies and Milano Realty before he and Betty bought Dane’s Health Foods in Sacramento and began a new career. They soon added a health food store in Livermore, CA, and aptly renamed it Van’s Health Foods. When Montecito Health Center became available, they purchased it and moved to Summerland, CA, fulfilling Vern’s lifelong dream of living in the beautiful Santa Barbara area. They successfully ran this store until they retired in 1985. In retirement, Vern and Betty enjoyed cruising the Caribbean and touring Europe including East Germany, Poland, Russia, Finland, Sweden, and Denmark. They also toured the U.S. and Canada in their Airstream trailer before parting ways.
Vern moved to Ajijic, Mexico, in 1987 with his second wife, Mary Sutton, where he spent several years enjoying his passion for buying and selling local real estate; moving into a number of beautiful homes - always with an eye on his next investment. He enjoyed the comradery of expatriates from several countries in the Lake Chapala retirement community before returning to the United States. After leaving Mexico, Vern and Mary settled in Las Vegas, NV, and then moved on to Sierra Vista, AZ.
Vern was preceded in death by his brothers Milo, Cleo, and Floyd, his sister Irene Vander Leest, and his second wife Mary.
Left to mourn his passing are his former wife and good friend Betty Van Der Kamp; children Carl (Patti) Van Der Kamp, Craig (Gayleen) Van Der Kamp, Lynne Van Der Kamp; six grandchildren: Christian Van Der Kamp, Joshua Van Der Kamp, Alissa Van Der Kamp (Keel), Micah Van Der Kamp, Timothy Slowik, and Josef Slowik; eight great-grandchildren: Lauren Van Der Kamp, Hannah Van Der Kamp, Karma Schwalback, Kaylie Van Der Kamp, Adam Van Der Kamp, Noah Van Der Kamp, River Van Der Kamp, Kai Van Der Kamp, Camila Slowik, and Tristan Keel; and sisters Ruby Van Wyk and Neva Lanser.
A graveside service was held at East Lawn Cemetery in Sacramento, CA, on Feb. 6, with Pastor Keith DeVries officiating.
We will always carry his memory in our hearts.
