Emile J. Van Der Beken, 90, of Manchester died March 19, 2014 at the Community Hospice House after a brief illness.
He was born in Manchester on April 13, 1923, the son of Emile and Margaret (Devlamick) Van Der Beken. He was educated in the local school system and had excelled at basketball and football prior to graduating Manchester West High School.
After graduation, Emile worked for a brief time at Pratt and Whitney Aircraft Division in Hartford, CT in 1942 before enlisting at an early age in the US Navy and earned numerous medals during WWII, including the WWII Victory Medal, the American Theatre Medal, and the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre Medal.
Prior to retirement, Emile had been employed as branch manager of Crown Linen Services for many years.
Always active in his community, he was the co-founder of the Manchester Swim Team and was honored as the Greater Manchester YMCA’s Man of the Year. He co-organized and coached Memorial High School’s swim teams and served on both the board of trustees and board of directors of the YMCA. He was an active member of the First Baptist Church having served as Boy Scout Leader, choir member, and Trustee member. He also was an active long time member of the Manchester Kiwanis Club.
He will be remembered as a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather who will be missed by all who knew him.
He was predeceased by his wife Dorothy S. (Adams) Van Der Beken in 1999.
Family members include his sons David Van Der Beken and wife Karen of Bedford, Stephen Van Der Beken and wife Susan of Manchester; his grandchildren, Grant Van Der Beken and wife Molly of Scottsdale, AZ, Clark Van Der Beken of Boston, Timothy Van Der Beken and wife Kristen of Wilbraham, MA, Kathryn Hunter and husband Preston of Bedford; two great-grandsons, Matthew and Cooper Van Der Beken; many nephews, nieces, and cousins.
The funeral service was held on Tuesday, March 25, 2014 in First Baptist Church, Manchester. Burial with military honors followed in Pine Grove Cemetery, Calef Road, Manchester.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to First Baptist Church, 536 Union St, Manchester, NH 03104.