Thinking of you on your special day, remembering way back in 2011. Precious memories I'll forever cherish. 
Happy Birthday to you. 

You are our angel now and always have been.  I know you will be there to watch over Nicholas while he is on his mission just as our ancestors were there to watch over me.  We love you so much and really miss you, but I know you are never far away even if we are not able to see you.  I am so glad that you can finally feel the freedom that you longed for and worked so hard for in this life.  I look forward to being with you again and I hope that I can accomplish what I am here to do as you have.  You have truly left a legacy.  We are blessed by your works even still.
Love you forever,
Laurel & Nick

Bryce I just want to say I forgive you for slamming my thumb in the van door when I was 4 years old.  I love you.

One of my fondest memories of Bryce is when I was pregnant with my first child at 20 years old.  I lived with my grandparents and my Uncle Bryce at the time.  I got a job working in the same grocery store with him.  He often picked me up from work at night.  One night when I got in his car he had a burp of indigestion and he grumbled under his breath.  This made me laugh and I asked him about his grumble.  He told me his co workers dared him to eat a habanero pepper!  Then he showed me the inch-thick pile of receipts that were in his wallet from all the things that he bought in attempt to cool the heat in his mouth.  Eventually the burn subsided but for a while that pepper made sure Bryce remembered what he had done that day. On the drive home we took the longer way to the house because there was a large hill that he always likes to go fast over to try and get air born.  What he didn't see on the other side of the hill was a police car.  He immediately slammed into the breaks.  Thankfully it was an unmanned car.  Bryce was fearless.  Once God granted him the lungs to breath he made sure that he lived.

For most people being humble is a learned trait.  For Bryce it was a trait that he was born with and a badge he wore proudly.  I remember being out with Bryce watching him tend to his garden and of course like the little girl I was, was freaked out by this ginormous spider, I mean it looked like the most terrifying thing to my young eyes.  Of course my first response is to kill it because I'm absolutely terrified.  Bryce just came over and picked up that daddy long legger and placed it nicely on a cucumber plant.  This is how Bryce was.  He was kind to everything and wanted everything to live.  While I only saw fear when I saw this spider Bryce saw a life that needed saving.  He knew how precious life was and knew that it could be taken away at any moment and always lived his life as if it was his last day.  Always serving wherever he could.  I hope to instill in my children the kind bravery, kindness and sense of service that Bryce had so they know how precious this life God gave us is and live every day to the fullest like my brave uncle Bryce did.  I look forward to eternity with you and I'll forever miss your laugh and the way you took pride in everything.

As a child I always thought that my aunts and uncles were so much older than me and this past week as I've been pondering my life and reflecting on my Uncle Bryce I realized that he was only 10 years older than me and how crazy that is and how it's such a small amount of time.  When I was younger I remember him always wearing these crazy long tube socks that hung off of his feet.  How did they not trip him?  I have no clue.  I also remember him taking his enzymes and he didn't just simply take them he would toss them up in the air and catch them in his mouth.  He very rarely missed.  I think he knew that we loved to see that.  It was this really could trick he could do to impress his nieces and nephews.  He had this very distinct laugh that I don't think I will ever forget.  I always thought Bryce was so full of light and as I think of him now in heaven that he truly is made up of that light.  I am so grateful for the example he has been to me and my family.

We all have our trails here on earth.  It just so happens Bryce's trial was his health. And from day one of his life, he had to fight.  
I remember when Bryce was young. He asked my parents, why do I have Cystic Fibrosis or as a child would say 65 roses. My dad came back and told him it was because he stood in the wrong line in heaven. 
I know Bryce was and now is again a part of the army in heaven.  He has a strong spirit. He had to have one because of all he went through. I know Bryce longed to be healthy, he longed to find the love of an eternal companion. He longed to be able to have more adventures and now he can and will have those things. 
My brother Bryce never gave up!!  He never put people down even though sometimes he struggled with them he would say why don't they understand.
Bryce did not have a mean bone in his body. Our Heavenly Father called him home and now he is free to do all the things he has longed for but most of all he can breathe.  I love you Bryce.  We will see you again one day.

Dear Bryce,
My heart breaks having learned of your passing.
I will always remember and cherish our time working together and our lunch breaks at Douglas County High School.
You were a good worker and always put others first. I'll never forget the time you went to Wendy's to get us lunch but ended up having to drive back because they forgot to put the sweet-n-low in the bag for my iced tea. Another memory I'll never forget is the night I experienced my first ever blizzard (being from Texas ya know lol) and how scared I was because I had to drive to Littleton in it. You assured me everything was going to be okay and that if I had trouble, to call you no matter the time or where I would happen to be.
You were indeed a shining star and helped put a smile on my face everyday. Breathe easy and soar high with the angels my friend.
You'll always be loved and cherished by all who knew you. 
Bryce's family....my thoughts and prayers are with you all during this difficult time. He was a good man who inspired and will continue to inspire so many. 


Bryce was a very dedicated and hard working individual. Always had a positive attitude and was a pleasure to work with.

My condolences to Bryce’s family. Bryce was the hardest working and most caring employee I have ever had. He was a wonderful person. My thoughts are with your family. 

Dearest Vandervoort family, Your sweet family is forever interwoven in the memories of my childhood in New Jersey and the Fardale Ward. I remember youth firesides at your house, the many callings you all served the ward through and especially when Bryce was born. What a cute and precious boy! So much love and care you all gave to him and so much love and happiness he brought to everyone. I wish I had the pleasure of knowing knowing him as an adult. 
I know your hearts ache indescribably at his departure from your presence, but I also know of your strong faith in our Heavenly Father's plan. May His Spirit comfort you and the hugs and prayers of those who love you console you.
Love,
Julie Holmstead Woolley 

Bryce was a friendly and faithful young man.  He was such a patriot who stood up for what he believed in and any time I saw him, he made me smile. I am heartbroken about his death and my love and condolences go out to Dirk and June. Praying for you and your family.

To Bryce's loved ones,

I'll always remember the gymnasium at school being covered in a huge sheet of paper that stretched the length of the basketball court for all of us to write messages to Bryce when he was in the hospital. There wasn't one person who had a bad word to say about him then, and I'm sure the same holds true now. The last time I saw him was at the Stop 'n' Shop in Franklin Lakes years after we graduated IHHS and he was just as sweet and kind as I remembered him as a kid.

I am so very sorry for your loss. 

With love and deepest condolences,
Frannie Melville



Bryce, I am eternally grateful that I became your friend at Mesa Middle School.  Our late afternoon discussions in my office will be my treasured memory of you.  I know that your smile is now lighting up the Kingdom of God.  Rest well in His Love and breathe with the angels.

To the Vandervoort family, I hope that you can temper your sadness with the truth that Bryce was truly a loving, faith-filled, humble servant of The Lord.  He lived a simple, giving life that we all were privileged to witness.  I hope to reflect some of his spirit in my life.  My prayers are with all of you. 

Bryce was always kind to me, Tayler, and Adalyn. Tayler & Adalyn enjoyed spending time with their Uncle Bryce on their trip to Colorado a few years ago. They talk about how much fun it was going to see him at work during his lunch break. Both kids adored him. 
Heaven certainly gained a very sweet man. My condolences to all of the VanderVoort family. May God give you comfort & peace in the days and weeks ahead. 

Bryce - Mesa Middle School will forever be grateful for your service and friendship.  We thank you for helping make our learning environment special as every morning it looked like a brand new building that all could take pride in.  The commitment to our young minds and staff was no different to that you gave to life.  That smile and servant personality made you an incredible co-worker and friend to all - you will be missed but not forgotten.   Breathe deep my friend!!

Our thoughts go out to all family and friends who were just as lucky as we were to have known Mr. VanderVoort.

Bryce, you have the kindest heart, the sweetest disposition and you’re one of the bravest people I’ve known.  Growing up with you I always admired your quiet strength. To never complain and always have that sweet smile on your face.  To know you now are breathing deep and healthy is all you ever deserved.  You left a big mark on this world, you’ll be very missed my friend. 

My Uncle Bryce,
        I sit here and so many memories come to mind that I have not accessed in years. My childhood was AWESOME because of YOU!!! Calling you my uncle somehow doesn't seem right, you were more like a brother to us and honestly the best friend we could ever have as children. We would always have so much fun and although you were sick you did not complain. You took your daily chest poundings like a champion even as a teenager.  You were always the perfect example of what it was like to be truly truly humble and blameless you never thought "why me." always chose to take the higher road and just live your life to the best of your abilities.  Heaven truly gained a wonderful Christlike warrior. You can now breathe freely and are in no more pain. You put up such a good fight Bryce and we are all very proud of you and love you so much. I will miss you my uncle Bryce VanderVoort And I will never forget your wonderful LEGO creations (he would should have worked for LEGO building their masterpieces), I will never forget ping pong ball and speed ping pong ball having to run around the table, I’ll never forget playing that Nintendo track and field game where we always cheated and used our hands, sleepovers on the patio, Dairy Queen, spoons, your bird sprite, your rabbit, how you loved to garden and be around wildlife, always driving to the hospital, and how you always used to run so fast downstairs it’s as if you were picked up and you were floating. I love you. Till we meet again my Wonderful, Brave Uncle Bryce who always wanted to live, who never gave up and the man who was not afraid to die. I love you and I am really struggling with you being gone. I look forward to seeing you again my friend.

To The Vander Voort Family you all are in our prayers, I am so sorry to hear of the passing of Bryce.  Back in the 1990’s at Indian Hills High School I was one of the out of town kids who only had a handful of friends and I am proud to say that Bryce was one of them. We ate lunch together almost all the time. Bryce was always such an inspiration to me all through high school and beyond. I know we lost contact for many years after we graduated, but thanks to Facebook we were able to re connect. And even after two decades of no communication it was like the decades never existed we just talked as if it was still 1995. There have been times that during depressing times that I would post something on Facebook and Bryce would either message or call me to see if I was okay. I will never forget Bryce and how great of a friend he was to me. Bryce May you rest in the sweetest of peace. You will always be missed

Bryce, you are free from the struggles of this life. Your example of integrity, honesty, loyalty and dedication is the best memory. The smile, bigger than life given so freely regardless of your own struggle. Your undying friendship is treasured beyond words. My life has been forever impacted because Bryce. 

My prayer is for Bryce's family, continue to enjoy and treasure the memories that were built and allow your friends to encourage you through this difficult time then when your friends go home God will continue to hold you in his arms to soften the pain of loss then when it is over here on earth we will all meet again.



Bryce, there is so much that I want to say but I have a word limit here and I'm not even sure I could get it out right. You are so awesome. I am so incredibly blessed to have so many fond memories filled with you. Getting to grow up right aside of my uncle helped us create a bond that I will cherish until we are able to meet again. My life will forever be changed because of the example that you've set for so many people. You are so humble, kind, forgiving, incredibly strong and a beautiful child of God.  No obstacle stood in your way. Even though you were born with cystic fibrosis you never felt badly for yourself. Youve never lost sight of the end goal and that was to be with our Heavenly Father.  You are his devoted soldier and now you are with him until we can be together again as a family. He had so much planned for you on earth and now you may continue your work up in heaven.  A place you can breathe and run and never get winded. A place where you are no longer bound by the troubles of your earthy body. Bryce I am having such a hard time knowing that your gone and I will strive for peace with the knowledge that you no longer have to suffer. But I will miss you so much. I'll miss our talks, your infectious laugh, your knowledge, our words with friends games, your presence. I, however, will hold onto my memories and hope that one day I am blessed to be reunited with you again. I love you so much, I truly hope that you never questioned that for a moment. 

You are someone who will always be in my heart!  You were such a caring person, always putting others first. You were a loving son, brother, uncle, friend  and a great Co-Worker,  You will be missed.  

Bryce will be missed by all. Not only a co-worker I considered him a good friend.

OBITUARY

Bryce William VanderVoort

25 March, 1977 – 4 March, 2019

Olinger Andrews Caldwell Gibson Chapel

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