Gerrit Dean Vandenberg

Gerrit was born October 29, 1977, in Fairbanks, Alaska, to Gerrit N. and Merdita Vandenberg. He attended North Pole Christian School from Kindergarten until he graduated high school. Gerrit also earned his pilot’s license at the young age of 16. After high school, he attended the University of Alaska Anchorage and graduated in May 1998 with a degree in aviation technology. Gerrit was hired quickly by the Federal Aviation Administration in August 1998, and began his career as an air traffic controller. During his successful career, he had the joy of working in Juneau and Anchorage, Alaska; Charlotte, North Carolina; Houston, Texas; Phoenix, Arizona; and finally back home to Fairbanks, Alaska. Gerrit left behind many good friends in all the places he was able to call home.

Gerrit loved snow machining, hunting, photography, traveling and aviation. He always had a smile on his face and his easy-going attitude, agreeable and funny personality won him many friends. His favorite response to how he was doing was, “not too shabby.”

Gerrit was preceded in death by his mother, Merdita Vandenberg and his grandfather, Gerrit Vandenberg.

Gerrit is survived by his father, Gerrit N. Vandenberg of Duluth, Minnesota; sister, Sherry (Shawn) Taylor of Fort Worth, Texas; niece, Kiera M. Taylor of Fort Worth, Texas; grandmother, Sylvia Vandenberg of Duluth, Minnesota; and many other family and friends.

Funeral service will be 11 am on June 4, 2012 at Forest Hill Cemetery in Duluth, Minnesota, 2516 Woodland Avenue.

To leave a memory of Gerrit or words of support, please visit our website at www.bellbrothersfuneralhome.com