Allo Coolman Funeral Homes

Ervin E. Vandeville Sr.

Date of Death: December, 18 2010

Ervin E. Vandeville Sr., 91, Gladstone, passed away on Saturday December 18, 2010 at Christian Park Healthcare Center following a brief illness. He was born on August 29, 1919 in Escanaba, the son of Emil and Alice (Wery) Vandeville. Ervin was raised in the Chemical Plant location and attended Escanaba area Schools. On August 11, 1941 he married the former Rose Pare, and she preceded him in death on June 7, 1994.

Ervin retired from Mead Paper in 1981, where he was better known to his friends as "Waterwheel". He enjoyed being with people and was always ready for a party. Ervin had a great memory, wonderful sense of humor and would often reminisce about friends he knew from childhood up through adulthood. You were only a stranger once to Erv and he always welcomed people into his home in Gladstone and his cottage on Ostrander Lake. A favorite line of Erv's was, "if you're not having a good time, it's your own damn fault".

Erv loved gardening and had a large vegetable garden every year. He canned his own tomatoes and took a lot of pride in his gardening. He also enjoyed dancing, playing cards, watching any kind of sports, but most of all loved his family and friends. In October of 2002, he reconnected with a childhood friend: Genivieve Bellaire, who was a close and loving companion until her death in January of 2009. In his later years, nothing gave him greater joy than to be surrounded by his grandchildren.

Ervin is survived by his four sons: Ervin (Sandy) Vandeville Jr., John (Kirsten) Vandeville, Gary (Rose) Vandeville and Dave (Annette) Vandeville, one sister: Helen Breitzman, one brother: Vern "Buck" (Flossie) Vandeville, ten grandchildren: Denise (Mike), John (Kristy), Corey (Lisa), Jenny (Kevin) Shelley, Dan (Carissa), Matt (Julie), Sarah (William), Daina (Eric) and Jamie (Amy), several great-grandchildren, brother-in-law: Lyle Pare as well as several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife: Rose, two sons: Robert and Roy, one sister: Elsie, one brother: Marvin and his special friend: Genivieve.

Friends may call from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday December 22, 2010 at Allo Coolman Funeral Home in Escanaba. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday at St. Anthony of Padua in Wells with Fr. Emmett Norden officiating. A luncheon will follow Mass in the church fellowship hall. Ervin will be laid to rest next to his wife in the Gardens of Rest Cemetery.

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