Visitation
Friday, April 11, 2008
5:00 PM to 8:00 PM EDT
Dykstra Funeral Homes
Mulder Chapel
188 West 32nd Street
Holland, MI 49423
(616) 392-2348
Driving Directions
Visitation
Saturday, April 12, 2008
2:00 PM to 5:00 PM EDT
Dykstra Funeral Homes
Mulder Chapel
188 West 32nd Street
Holland, MI 49423
(616) 392-2348
Driving Directions
Service
Monday, April 14, 2008
6:00 PM EDT
Central Ave. Christian Reformed Church
#1 graves Place
Holland, MI 49423
Contributions
At the family's request memorial contributions are to be made to those listed below. Please forward payment directly to the memorial of your choice.
Holland Christian Schools
Ottawa Ave
Holland, MI 49423
Gideon's Bible
P.O. Box 173
Zeeland, MI 49464
Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp
300 East Crystal Lake Road
Twin Lake, MI 49457
Flowers
Below is the contact information for a florist recommended by the funeral home.
Huisman Flowers
11595 East Lakewood Blvd.
Holland, MI 49424
1 (616) 399-5060
Driving Directions
Web Site
Life Story / Obituary
Henry Vander Linde lived a life filled with music. From his earliest years through his final days he sang, played, directed, taught or just enjoyed this art form.
Born on July 13, 1924 to Leonard and Henrietta (Rikkers) Vander Linde, Henry was the middle of seven children who resided in his father’s boyhood home at 426 Quimby NE in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Leonard, a butcher, and Henrietta, a true matriarch, raised their family with a love for the Lord Jesus and for music. Their mother trained the seven children to sing together, always by memory, for area church services. She even made matching outfits for them to wear and was their rehearsal accompanist, although never being willing to perform in public. During his school years Henry learned to play the euphonium and played in the band at Creston High School from which he graduated in 1942.
A hardworking man all his life, one of Henry’s early jobs was caddying at the Kent Country Club where he formed a lifelong love for the game of golf. Some years later he worked at the City Cemetery, which made him toy with the idea of becoming a mortician.
Following graduation from High School Henry was drafted into the army serving from 1943-46. Because of his musical gift he was assigned to the 339th Army Service Force Band. Regularly playing in parades and visiting hospitals for injured soldiers during this time, established his lifelong passion for parades and honoring those in service to their country.
Following his discharge from the service he took advantage of the GI bill, enrolling at Calvin College. His early studies were in pre-seminary but it became apparent to Professor Harold Geerdes that this young man should be a teacher of instrumental music. Henry became involved in a number of musical activities while a student at Calvin including some teaching with Mr. Geerdes, singing in the Veterans Choir, and playing in the accompanying brass quartet. All members of the quartet shared July birthdays, which they celebrated together every year with the choir director, Al Smith. A confirmed bachelor, Henry didn’t usually bring a date. Having begun graduate work in 1953 at Michigan State University, his friends told him he should ask that smart grad student named Mary Scott. Boy, could his friends pick ‘em! It was very apparent that their relationship was one of harmony! They were married on June 19, 1954 in gorgeous Petoskey, Michigan and established their home in Holland where Henry had begun his music education career in the Holland Christian Schools.
Henry was hired in 1950 to build the school’s band program, beginning a career that touched many, many lives and made a great difference to everyone within earshot. He had a standard of excellence to which he held himself as well as his bands. The podium became the platform from which he taught important life lessons to his students about discipline and responsibility, not only about music. He furthered his education at the prestigious VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, earning the Master of Music Education degree in 1958. Henry taught instrumental music in the Holland Christian Schools from 1950-1986. He was a member of the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association who elected him Teacher of the Year in 1968 and 1977, and was elected in 1959 to the American School Band Directors’ Association, which granted him their highest awards, and elected him national president in 1985.
In the early 1960’s to avoid getting ‘band director chops,’ Henry decided to join the baritone section of the Holland American Legion Band. He was named the group’s director in 1966, beginning a four-decade tenure concluding in ‘Conductor Emeritus’ status in 2006. The band performed weekly through the summers in the Kollen Park band shell, which was named in Henry’s honor in 1999. Large crowds gathered every week in the park, not just to hear the band, but to hear Henry’s stories about the music and his particular witty banter. One could say that Henry never did anything halfway or for a short time. He served as director of bands for 36 years at H.C.H.S, directed the American Legion Band for 40 years, and for 26 summers conducted bands at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. No matter which band he conducted, one heard Henry’s unique sound from each group. His concept of tone was clearly communicated and he became known throughout the band world for being a gifted teacher and conductor, but his qualities as a man were what really distinguished him. Known for his eloquence coupled with a quick wit, he was asked to give speeches across the State at band banquets. Whether from the podium or the adjudicator’s chair, many students remember his rhyming schemes by which he taught the principles of good musicianship as well as important life lessons, and for which in recent years he became fondly known as the ‘Dr. Seuss of sight-reading.’
Service to the community was very important to Henry. He served on the Holland School Board of Education for 12 years, was a member of the Evergreen Kiwanis Club, a member of Gideon’s International, directed music for services at the Holland City Mission, and was a member of Central Avenue Christian Reformed Church of Holland where he served as choir director for 33 years and was an elder.
As dedicated as he was to his teaching, his service to community and his faith, he was equally devoted to his beloved family. He and Mary were the proud parents of three children, daughters Kristin (1955) and Martha (1956), and son Scott Henry (1958). Henry was a wonderful husband and father and the five of them shared many happy times. An enjoyable memory for the children was the post Sunday dinner “Birdie Game.” He would also keep the children in stitches with his silly drawings and doodles; artistic talents that most didn’t know he possessed. The importance of family was demonstrated in the time spent every summer in Petoskey with Mary’s parents and in the many Sundays when the extended family gathered at Henry’s parents’ home in Grand Rapids developing close ties for the children with their grandparents, aunt, uncles and cousins. Beyond summer vacation in Petoskey, there were trips to various A.S.B.D.A. conventions across the U.S. and 10 summers of cottage fun at the Cedar Lake Bible Conference in Indiana, where Henry served as Song Director.
Henry and Mary’s love for each other and shared love for music made their marriage unique. Enjoying the game of golf began early in their relationship. When Henry retired he enjoyed working as a ranger at Winding Creek Golf Course and coaching the Holland Christian Golf Team. Love for family and music and even golf has woven the Vander Linde generations together.
Retirement in 1986 provided Henry with precious time to spend with his grandkids. They have happy memories of trips to “Mickey-D’s”, to football games, riding on the golf cart at Winding Creek and on his electric cart, drawing with them, playing games and attending the musical events in which they were involved.
As Henry’s physical health began to decline his mind remained sharp allowing him to be the articulate man he was. He moved to Lakeside Vista Retirement Center where he passed away peacefully on Friday, April 4, 2008, at the age of 83.
Henry was an exceptional man who lived an exemplary life devoted to his God, his family, his students and his community. Whether directing a band, choir, or leading hymn-sings, he impacted all those with whom he came in contact.
Henry - “O Rest in the Lord.”
Henry’s family includes: wife of 53 years Mary Scott Vander Linde, children: Kristin K. and Lawrence McKay of Hudsonville, Martha J. and Dr. Thomas Hart of Lamoni, Iowa, Dr. Scott H. and Dr. Marie (Westra) Vander Linde of Grand Rapids; 6 grandchildren Katie Miller (Seth), Larry, Meredith, Christopher, Annica and Kristin; sister Martha Bel, brother James Vander Linde, sister Patricia and Francis Ryan, sisters-in-law Melvina Vander Linde and Doris Vander Linde, all of Grand Rapids; several nephews, nieces, and cousins.
Visiting will be from 5-8 pm on Friday, April 11, 2008 and 2-5 pm Saturday, April 12, 2008 at the Mulder Chapel Life Story Funeral Home, 188 West 32nd St., Holland, MI.
Services will be at 6 pm Monday, April 14, 2008 at the Central Ave. Christian Reformed Church of Holland. Burial will be in Pilgrim Home Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to The Gideon’s International (Ottagan Camp), Holland Christian Schools or Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp.
Arrangements by Dykstra Life Story Funeral Homes, Inc., Mulder Chapel. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to sign his online guestbook, leave a memory or upload a photo of Henry.