- Date Of Birth: 1949
- Date Of Death: 2022
- State: Arizona
Edward A. Vander Ploeg, Age 73, of Scottsdale, AZ, passed away peacefully on October 14, 2022 in Forest Lakes, Arizona. Ed passed while doing what he loved, camping. Ed was born on June 16, 1949 at his home in Midland Park, New Jersey, the son of John Vander Ploeg and Lucille (Osinga) Vander Ploeg.
Ed graduated from Midland Park High School in 1969. Ed attended Oklahoma Farrier College in 1973 and worked as a Farrier and in transportation at Black Millworks until 1975. From 1975 to 1996, Ed worked as a manager in manufacturing, production and quality control for Coleco/Hasbro. In 1998, Ed began a career in transportation, working for Arnold Transportation and Sunbelt Rentals until his retirement on June 15, 2014.
Ed met Linda Joan Greco in 1968 at Sicomac Dairy in Wyckoff, NJ where they both boarded their horses. Ed and Linda married on July 31, 1971 in Wyckoff, NJ. Ed and Linda purchased a home and moved to Caroga Lake, NY in 1975 and then to Scottsdale, AZ in 2006.
Ed was loving and committed to his family. Ed was ecstatic to become an uncle at the young age of 12 to his first nephew, Donny Vander Ploeg, and spent countless hours with him. Ed and his wife Linda shared a special bond, often working side by side to prepare their home for holidays and special occasions. The couple raised two wonderful children, Heather and Bryan and celebrated their 51st Anniversary on July 31, 2022. Ed was always there for his children, whether it be for a ride home late at night, a tire change, a home repair, or just a helping hand. Ed always shared what was his with his children and was just as generous with his granddaughter, Lily. Ed adored Lily, often picking her up from school and surprising her with a special drink or snack. The only requirement was payment in the form of kisses on his cheek.
Ed loved to tell jokes, was quick witted and a great storyteller. He is jokingly known for his love of a heaping pile of mashed potatoes. Additionally, everyone that knew him also saw his warm sense of humor, unyielding affection for his family and his love of a cold beer.
Ed was a hard worker, and a talented carpenter. He can be credited with building log cabins, home additions, decks, barns and furniture. Ed enjoyed hunting, shooting skeet, snowmobile riding, and four-wheeling. Ed especially loved boating and camping. Ed was a boat owner for most of his life, spending many years on the Great Sacandaga Lake in NY and Saguaro Lake in Arizona. His favorite camping spots included the campgrounds in the Adirondacks in New York and near the Mogollon Rim in Arizona.
Preceding Ed in death are his parents John and Lucille Vander Ploeg, brothers John (Yun) and Donald Vander Ploeg, sister Lois Meyer and her husband Robert Meyer. Remaining to cherish Ed’s memory are his wife Linda, daughter Heather, son Bryan, granddaughter Lily, brother Robert Vander Ploeg and his wife Susan, sister Joan Haak and her husband Lenny, the wife of his brother Don, Edith Vander Ploeg, along with in-laws and many cherished nieces and nephews.
