1969
David
2013
David Lee Vanhaelst
December 31, 1969 — February 26, 2013
David Lee Vanhaelst, age 69, of Savanna, Illinois died Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at the University of Iowa Hospital, Iowa City. A Funeral service will be held at 5:00 p.m., Saturday, March 2, 2013 at Law-Jones Funeral Home, Savanna. A visitation will be held from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m., Saturday, March 2, 2013 at Law-Jones Funeral Home. Online condolences may be left for the family at
www.lawjonesfuneralhome.com
.
David was born August 14, 1943, the son of Frank and Alice (Triest) VanHaelst in St. Charles, Illinois. He attended St. Charles High School, and graduated with the Class of 1961. David served his country in the Vietnam War from 1966-67 as a Communications Specialist. He married Jo Ann Potter on April 18, 1970 in Centralia, Illinois.
David owned and operated VBS, Inc., providing mechanical services to bowling allies for 37 years. He was a member of the Savanna VFW and Moose Lodge, and a supporter of the Mooseheart Child City & School. David enjoyed his family, camping and fishing, sharing the outdoors with others and exploring nature. He loved gardening, collecting trains, working with his hands and teaching others. He loved to make his own path, whether it was working on a house to reconstruct it, or going off the trail at a state park. He built new tools by hand and designed diagrams to perfect his trade. He taught others to be self-sufficient, and always said “you’re never too old to learn.”
David will be dearly missed by his wife, Jo Ann; son, David (Emilie) VanHaelst of Steward, IL; two daughters, Dawnette (Ronald) Cole of Savanna and Diana (Nick) Eppenstein; and seven grandchildren, Kycarah and Matthew VanHaelst, Taylor and Tygan Cole, Aaron and Madison Eppenstein and Allison VanHaelst; one brother, Joe (Ellenor) VanHaelst of York, New York; and three sisters, Antoinette (Richard) Frohn of Elgin, Janice (Robert) Burks of Waterman, IL, and Rebecca Kuhr of St. Charles, IL. He is preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Alice VanHaelst, brother Frank VanHaelst, and sister Janet (Don) Worley.
David was born August 14, 1943, the son of Frank and Alice (Triest) VanHaelst in St. Charles, Illinois. He attended St. Charles High School, and graduated with the Class of 1961. David served his country in the Vietnam War from 1966-67 as a Communications Specialist. He married Jo Ann Potter on April 18, 1970 in Centralia, Illinois.
David owned and operated VBS, Inc., providing mechanical services to bowling allies for 37 years. He was a member of the Savanna VFW and Moose Lodge, and a supporter of the Mooseheart Child City & School. David enjoyed his family, camping and fishing, sharing the outdoors with others and exploring nature. He loved gardening, collecting trains, working with his hands and teaching others. He loved to make his own path, whether it was working on a house to reconstruct it, or going off the trail at a state park. He built new tools by hand and designed diagrams to perfect his trade. He taught others to be self-sufficient, and always said “you’re never too old to learn.”
David will be dearly missed by his wife, Jo Ann; son, David (Emilie) VanHaelst of Steward, IL; two daughters, Dawnette (Ronald) Cole of Savanna and Diana (Nick) Eppenstein; and seven grandchildren, Kycarah and Matthew VanHaelst, Taylor and Tygan Cole, Aaron and Madison Eppenstein and Allison VanHaelst; one brother, Joe (Ellenor) VanHaelst of York, New York; and three sisters, Antoinette (Richard) Frohn of Elgin, Janice (Robert) Burks of Waterman, IL, and Rebecca Kuhr of St. Charles, IL. He is preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Alice VanHaelst, brother Frank VanHaelst, and sister Janet (Don) Worley.
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