Obituary for Edward Albert "Ed" Vander Berg
Wantage: Edward Albert Vander Berg “Ed”, 70 passed away peacefully at home on Saturday May 25, 2019. He was under the care of Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice. Ed was a good and loyal friend to many people through the years and made friends wherever he traveled.
Ed, son of the late Albert and Cecelia (Oakley) Vander Berg was born in Paterson July 20, 1948. He grew up in Totowa, moving to Wantage Twp. in 1976.
He was very active in the community and had a wonderful gift of gab! Ed was knowledgeable and experienced in many diverse things and mentored many friends and relatives through the years. He always liked to have the last word and more often than not, he got it!
Ed was married to his best friend Nancy for 43 years and they proudly raised three wonderful children together: Dan, Christina and Kevin. He also was one of the proudest “Papa’s” there could be of his 10 year old granddaughter, Sierra.
Ed retired in 2011 after many years of service as a Code Official in Sussex County. He served the towns of Wantage, Sussex, Franklin, Green, Frankford, Hardyston and Walpack. He worked as a Construction Official, Plumbing Inspector, Zoning Officer and Fire Subcode Official. In 2005 he had the honor of receiving Code Official of the Year with a Governor’ Resolution. He was former President of the Building Officials of NJ and Past President of the Sussex Warren Code Officials Association.
Ed is a Life Member of the Sussex Kiwanis and has served as Past President. He is a member of Wantage Fire Dept., Colesville Company for 40 years and served as Treasurer for several terms. Ed was a member of Lincoln Firehouse in Totowa before moving to Sussex County and also worked for the City of Passaic for 5 years as a Firefighter. Ed is a member of the NJ Fireman Relief Association. He is also one of the Emergency Management Deputy Coordinators for Wantage Twp.
His memberships included, Sussex Elks Lodge #2288, Pvt. Charles Auberger American Legion Post #213, Vietnam Veterans of America Wallkill Valley Chapter 1062, Veterans of Foreign Wars and President of Deckertown Union Cemetery, Branchville Businessmen’s Club, and Sussex County Crime Stoppers. He was a Life Member of American Motorcycle Association, member of the National Association for Amateur Radio, Blue Mountain Antique Gas and Steam Engine Association and the National Rifle Association. He is a Past President of Wallkill Valley Rotary Club and Past Board Member & Past President of High Point Regional High School and Past Board Member to YMCA Camp Mason.
Ed was awarded in March of this year by the Chinkchewunska Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution with the Historic Preservation Medal for his 12 years of volunteering and dedication and his outstanding achievement in Historic Preservation.
He served with Honor and Valor as a member of the United States Army in the 101st Airborne in Vietnam from 1968-69. He was a mortar man with Company E, 1st Battalion Division (Airmobile) at Camp Eagle. He was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge in Vietnam (Bronze Star).
Ed is survived by his wife Nancy (Chirico) Vander Berg; children, Dan Vander Berg (Ashley Junior) of Wantage Twp., Christina Vander Berg (Brice Keyes) of Grand Junction, CO and Kevin Vander Berg of Wantage Twp.; granddaughter, Sierra Owens of Grand Junction, CO; brothers & sister, Rich Vander Berg (Sue) of Totowa, Colette Sanders (Dick) of Little Falls, Pat Vander Berg (Liliana) of Lighthouse Point, FL and Tim Vander Berg (Pauline) of Totowa; 12 nieces & nephews and 12 grand nieces & grand nephews all from FL, AZ, NY, & NJ as well as many cousins in FL, TX, NY & NJ.
A Celebration of Ed’s Life will be held Sunday June 2, 2019 at 4:00PM at the Beemerville Firehouse 227 Cty. Rd 519 Wantage, NJ 07461. Friends are welcome to arrive at the firehouse one hour prior to the service, from 3:00-4PM. Cremation and interment of ashes at Deckertown Union Cemetery will be private. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Deckertown Union Cemetery 37 Quarry Rd. Wantage, NJ 07461 or Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice 99 Sparta Ave. Newton, NJ 07860 or to Colesville Fire Department 1202 Sate Rt. 23 Sussex, NJ 07461.
Private cremation services have been entrusted to Ferguson Funeral Home 27 Third St. Sussex, NJ 07461. For directions and online condolences, please see www.fergusonfuneralhomesnj.com
Ed, son of the late Albert and Cecelia (Oakley) Vander Berg was born in Paterson July 20, 1948. He grew up in Totowa, moving to Wantage Twp. in 1976.
He was very active in the community and had a wonderful gift of gab! Ed was knowledgeable and experienced in many diverse things and mentored many friends and relatives through the years. He always liked to have the last word and more often than not, he got it!
Ed was married to his best friend Nancy for 43 years and they proudly raised three wonderful children together: Dan, Christina and Kevin. He also was one of the proudest “Papa’s” there could be of his 10 year old granddaughter, Sierra.
Ed retired in 2011 after many years of service as a Code Official in Sussex County. He served the towns of Wantage, Sussex, Franklin, Green, Frankford, Hardyston and Walpack. He worked as a Construction Official, Plumbing Inspector, Zoning Officer and Fire Subcode Official. In 2005 he had the honor of receiving Code Official of the Year with a Governor’ Resolution. He was former President of the Building Officials of NJ and Past President of the Sussex Warren Code Officials Association.
Ed is a Life Member of the Sussex Kiwanis and has served as Past President. He is a member of Wantage Fire Dept., Colesville Company for 40 years and served as Treasurer for several terms. Ed was a member of Lincoln Firehouse in Totowa before moving to Sussex County and also worked for the City of Passaic for 5 years as a Firefighter. Ed is a member of the NJ Fireman Relief Association. He is also one of the Emergency Management Deputy Coordinators for Wantage Twp.
His memberships included, Sussex Elks Lodge #2288, Pvt. Charles Auberger American Legion Post #213, Vietnam Veterans of America Wallkill Valley Chapter 1062, Veterans of Foreign Wars and President of Deckertown Union Cemetery, Branchville Businessmen’s Club, and Sussex County Crime Stoppers. He was a Life Member of American Motorcycle Association, member of the National Association for Amateur Radio, Blue Mountain Antique Gas and Steam Engine Association and the National Rifle Association. He is a Past President of Wallkill Valley Rotary Club and Past Board Member & Past President of High Point Regional High School and Past Board Member to YMCA Camp Mason.
Ed was awarded in March of this year by the Chinkchewunska Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution with the Historic Preservation Medal for his 12 years of volunteering and dedication and his outstanding achievement in Historic Preservation.
He served with Honor and Valor as a member of the United States Army in the 101st Airborne in Vietnam from 1968-69. He was a mortar man with Company E, 1st Battalion Division (Airmobile) at Camp Eagle. He was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge in Vietnam (Bronze Star).
Ed is survived by his wife Nancy (Chirico) Vander Berg; children, Dan Vander Berg (Ashley Junior) of Wantage Twp., Christina Vander Berg (Brice Keyes) of Grand Junction, CO and Kevin Vander Berg of Wantage Twp.; granddaughter, Sierra Owens of Grand Junction, CO; brothers & sister, Rich Vander Berg (Sue) of Totowa, Colette Sanders (Dick) of Little Falls, Pat Vander Berg (Liliana) of Lighthouse Point, FL and Tim Vander Berg (Pauline) of Totowa; 12 nieces & nephews and 12 grand nieces & grand nephews all from FL, AZ, NY, & NJ as well as many cousins in FL, TX, NY & NJ.
A Celebration of Ed’s Life will be held Sunday June 2, 2019 at 4:00PM at the Beemerville Firehouse 227 Cty. Rd 519 Wantage, NJ 07461. Friends are welcome to arrive at the firehouse one hour prior to the service, from 3:00-4PM. Cremation and interment of ashes at Deckertown Union Cemetery will be private. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Deckertown Union Cemetery 37 Quarry Rd. Wantage, NJ 07461 or Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice 99 Sparta Ave. Newton, NJ 07860 or to Colesville Fire Department 1202 Sate Rt. 23 Sussex, NJ 07461.
Private cremation services have been entrusted to Ferguson Funeral Home 27 Third St. Sussex, NJ 07461. For directions and online condolences, please see www.fergusonfuneralhomesnj.com