Gary John VanderMolen Obituary

Gary J. VanderMolen went to be with the Lord on May 13, 2022 after suffering a long battle with Primary Biliary Sclerosis (PBS), a chronic liver disease.

Gary was born on December 7, 1941 (Pearl Harbor Day) in the occupied Netherlands. Gary and his family immigrated to West Chicago, IL on the S.S. Waterman on April 25, 1955, and arrived in New York on May 5, 1955. It was a very hot day, and he almost melted in his mostly wooly clothes. After arriving in the U.S., Gary attended Wheaton Academy for 4 years, earning a full academic scholarship to Northwestern University, where he graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering.

After serving a tour in Vietnam, Gary and his (late) wife Rebecca moved to California where he spent the next 26+ years of his career working on decommissioned submarines as a Supervisory Electronics Engineer at Mare Island Naval Shipyard in San Francisco Bay, CA. Gary also donated time doing volunteer technical support for Microsoft, and was honored with an MVP (Most Valuable Professional) award for 15 years of superior support.

In later years, his wife Rebecca died of cancer.

Gary attended First Christian Church of Napa and loved to sing old hymns in the choir. His 2nd wife Lani also sang in the church choir. In his final weeks and days on earth, he enjoyed listening to -- and when able, singing the old hymns.

He was preceded in death by his father Harry Vander Molen, sister Ann Vander Molen Shelhamer, and wife Rebecca.

Gary is survived by his wife, Lani, and children: John W. VanderMolen, Melissa Murphy, and Gary VanderMolen Jr.

Gary’s surviving siblings are Dorothy Vander Molen Keller, John (Jerry) Vander Molen, Ena Vander Molen, Janny Vander Molen Nolan, Berny Vander Molen, and Caroline Vander Molen Toomey.

Gary is also survived by his mother Joan Vander Molen of West Chicago, IL, who is 101 years young.