William A. Van Den Burg

William A. "Bill� Van Den Burg
William A. "Bill� Van Den Burg, 81, of Independence died July 15, 2006 at the Medical Center of Independence. A Parish Rosary will be recited for Mr. Van Den Burg at St. Mark�s Catholic Church on Tuesday at 5:30 P.M. with a visitation following from 6-8 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mark�s Catholic Church in Independence. Interment will follow at St. John�s Catholic Cemetery in Lenexa with military honors. Bill was born in Kansas City, Missouri on June 23, 1925 the son of Antonius P. "Tony� and Elizabeth Louise (Voss) Van Den Burg. He was a graduate of Shawnee Mission North High School. He will be remembered for his love of music of which he was a collector. He was a family man and devoted husband, father and grandfather. Bill loved gardening, and shopping with his wife. He was always eager to help others and could be described as spontaneous and very patriotic. He was a member of St. Mark�s Catholic Church both in Phoenix and in Independence. He taught CCD classes, was a lector, member of the choir and had been a Past President of the Parish Council at St. Mark�s in Phoenix. He was a Navy Corpsman and was assigned to the 4th Marine Division of the 23rd Battalion. He served during World War II in the Battles of Roi Namur, Tinian, Saipan and Iwo Jima and was awarded two purple hearts and recommended for the Bronze Star. He was a charter member of the VFW Chapter in Lenexa and was a life member of the American Legion in Overland Park. He formed and was President from 1990 to 1996 of the Heart of America 4th Marine Division Association. Mr. Van Den Burg owned Bill�s Barbeque in Lenexa during the 1960�s and retired after over 30 years of service as a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service. He lived in Phoenix from 1967 until 1986 at which time he returned to the Kansas City area. William married Alice Irene
Garrett in Olathe, Kansas on September 22, 1945. She survives of the home. He is also survived by four daughters: Alice "Lynn� Yeamans and her husband Ken of Cibilo, Tx., "Mary� Louise Johnson and her husband Harley of Gardner, Ks., Virginia Anne "Jenny� Davis and her husband Jerry of Peebles, Ohio and Lora Jane "Lori� Van Becelaere of Independence, twelve grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister Rita Schmidt, a daughter Rita Lorene Van Den Burg who died on February 16, 1960 and a granddaughter Katherine "Kathy� Anne (Yeamans) Rager. Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to Catholic Charities or to Children�s Mercy Hospital. Online condolences to www.speakschapel.com. Speaks Suburban Chapel is in charge.