| Notes |
- Ervin Van Dyke was born November 3rd, 1915 in the family home on the farm in Verboort, Oregon, the son of William and Alice (Evers) Van Dyke. He joined older siblings Julius (Juke), Irene, and Evelyn (Curly). He was followed by Cyril, Robert (Bud), Esther, and Stanley. He married Jane Bernards on November 11th, 1953, together they had four children; Kevin Ervin, Charlene Jane, Beverly Ann, and Jan Marie. Dad knew 11 granddaughters; Aimee, Breeann, Cayla and Darcie Van Dyke (Kevin), Jenny, Janel, and Jill, VanderZanden (Charlene), Laura and Katelyn Schalk (Beverly), and Krista and Megan Foltz (Jan). After his passing, Ryan and Elise Schalk joined the ranks of his grandchildren.
( daughter Bev wrote this November 28, 1990 to be used at Dad's funeral ).
Ervin was born November 3, 1915 in Verboort, the fourth of Bill and Alice VanDyke's eight children. He was born, lived, and died within sight of his home place. He could stand on the back porch of his current home and see everywhere he had live Through his early adulthood, Dad played saxophone and trumpet in "The Nightengales" orchestra with his brothers and sisters. In 1951, he quit playing the music and began playing the field. He "robbed the cradle" by marrying Jane Bernards on November 11, 1953. They shared the same birthday, four children, and 37 years of marriage. Ervin worked the family farm all his life with his brothers, farming the same land his father had before him. Dad worked hard, and worked hard at keeping us on the straight and narrow. ("If you're going to do something, do it well." "If you want a job done right, do it yourself." "A place for everything, and everything in it's place.") Dad always did what he thought (KNEW) was right. He was strong willed and fiesty, surviving a broken back, severe burns, open heart surgery, and four earlier heart attacks.
He enjoyed a full life and WORKED at hobbies including beekeeping, winemaking, fishing, crabbing, hunting, and grafting fruit trees for family and friends. Dad had a thriving home orchard and garden. "Blackie" enjoyed playing cards with his duck-hunting buddies. His trip to Alaska last summer fulfilled a long-time dream. Grandpa Ervin watched 11 granddaughters bloom and grow, and taught them some of life's most important lessons, such as "Bumblebee bumblebee, ZIP" and where their "beekabock" is. No matter what the season was, as we'd leave, he would say, "See you next Spring!" Though we will miss him terribly, he got a final wish early Monday evening when he went "out like a light mid-stride while hunting with his son on a hillside overlooking his family's land. We wish you well, Papa, and thank you for all you have given us ("If you would, please.")
I pray that I may hunt and fish until my dying day.
And when my days are through at las then this I humbly pra
When in our Lord"s great landing net,
and peacefully asleep,
that in His mercy, I'll be found,
BIG ENOUGH TO KEEP!
Dad's funeral was held at 11 AM on Saturday, December 1 1990.
About 500 people attended. The pews were all full, the choir was full, the back of church was full of people standing, and people were standing along the sides!
We should all wish to be so lucky- - - -Live a full, productive life, enjoy good health, and when it comes time to die, go quickly, doing what you love, and have lived your life in aa such a manner that 500 people thought enough of you to come to your funera
So long Papa, Rest peacefully
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1915 - 1990 (75 years)
