Opal M. Vandenburg, of Dowagiac

Published 11:00 am Tuesday, January 3, 2017

July 11, 1923 — Dec. 31, 2016

Opal M. Vandenburg, 93, of Dowagiac, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2016, at the Westwoods of Niles.
A celebration of life service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017, at Clark Chapel & Cremation Services, 405 Center St., Dowagiac, with Pastor Brenda Gordon officiating. Burial will follow in Mission Hills Memorial Gardens in Niles. Friends may visit with the family from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017, at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to the Pokagon United Methodist Church. Those wishing to sign Opal’s Memory Book online may do so at clarkch.com.
Opal was born July 11, 1923, in Bridgman, to Roy and Vesta (Robbins) Nash.

Opal M. Vandenburg

On July 8, 1943, she married Russell Aldrich. He preceded her in death on Jan. 28, 1960.
Opal then married Leonard Vandenburg on Nov. 3, 1960.
She owned and operated Opal’s Food Mart in Pokagon Township for 37 ½ years. Opal enjoyed sewing and quilting. She was a member of Pokagon United Methodist church for more than 50 years. Opal was active in the Ladies Aide and the United Methodist Women’s group. She loved her family and enjoyed spending time with all of them, especially her grandchildren.
Opal is survived by her son, Roy Vandenburg of Dowagiac; daughters Marcia (Kenneth) Reed of Dowagiac and Linda (David) Kramb of Dowagiac; six grandchildren, Ron (Cheryl) Phillips, Kevin (Samantha) Vandenburg, Justin (Ashley) Vandenburg, Chris (Jennifer) Reed, Brandon Kramb and Nathan (Kyleigh) Kramb; eight great-grandchildren, Jayden, Alexandria, Melissa, Kaleb, Emma, Addyson, Emily and Tanner.
Opal was preceded in death by both of her husbands; grandson Eric Reed; daughter-in-law Sue Vandenburg; brothers Merle Nash, Ernest Nash and Clare Nash; and sisters Lila Pease, Viola Harvey and Leota Nash.