Philip Lee Vande Voort (72) of Eldora, IA, went home to his Savior in heaven on February 6 at Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames. His wife, Darlene was with him when he passed.

Phil was the seventh and youngest child of Henry and Ella Vande Voort. He grew up in Hayward, MN, Wellsburg, IA, and Luverne, MN. He attended Dordt College in Sioux Center, IA and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics in 1970. Phil was always very good with numbers.

Phil met Dar, a first year teacher at Timothy Christian School, in Wellsburg and invited her to a concert at a local church. They were married in Dar’s hometown of Grand Haven, MI, in 1976. They farmed in the Eldora and Grundy Center areas for over 40 years. They were long-time members of Wellsburg First Christian Reformed Church, and Phil was active as Sunday School superintendent and served several terms on the church council. He also served on the board at Timothy Christian School, where Dar taught and his children attended.

Phil and Dar had three children, Jean, Tom, and Amy. Phil made every effort and great sacrifice to send his children to a Christian school. He led his family to know and love Jesus. Phil delighted in his seven grandchildren and was a wonderful, loving grandfather to them, especially giving them tractor rides on the farm. Phil is treasured by his family as a caring husband, supportive father, and fun-loving grandfather.

Phil loved farming with red International Harvester tractors. Phil had a wonderful sense of humor and enjoyed emceeing family events and church programs. He was soft-spoken but well-loved by many friends and all his family. Phil was a kind, gentle and unfailingly generous man, giving of his time, exceptional talents, and anything he had to help his friends and loved ones.

Phil is survived by his wife Darlene, daughters Jean (Brian) DeVries and Amy Vande Voort, son Tom (Angie) Vande Voort, grandchildren Reagan, Madison, and Hunter Devries and Josiah, Asher, Zadok, and Benaiah Vande Voort, sister Ruth (Calvin) Branderhorst and brothers Everett (Jeanette) Vande Voort, Henry (Ruth) Vande Voort, George Vande Voort, Paul (Beverly) Vande Voort, and brother-in-law Kenneth Rindels. He is preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Ella Vande Voort, sister Christina Rindels, and sister-in-law Jan Vande Voort.

Visitation services will be held on Wednesday, February 10 from 4-6 pm at Wellsburg First Christian Reformed Church (2.5 miles west of Wellsburg on D-25). The memorial service will be held at 10:30 am on Thursday, February 11 at Wellsburg First Christian Reformed Church.