Albert Edward Vanacker

East Lansing, Michigan

Albert Edward Vanacker, our dear father, passed away on March 8, 2021 at age 92 in the care of his family. He was born to Raymond and Elizabeth (Gallagher) Vanacker on November 10, 1928 in Isabella County, near Shepherd, Michigan. Albert was raised on his family’s farm working alongside his parents and his ten siblings. He had many jobs, working on his family’s farm in Shepherd, harvesting sugar beets and digging ditches.

He met his wife, Helen Nemeth, at St. Mary’s Social Club. Shortly thereafter he spotted Helen on Michigan Avenue waiting in the rain for the bus. He offered her a ride and the courtship began. They married on October 3, 1953. They enjoyed a honeymoon road trip to Niagara Falls and New England for the fall colors. He was an old-fashioned gentleman, helping this wife, Helen, with her chair at meals and putting on her coat. He drove her to church and many family and social functions. He grew a large vegetable garden at his mother-in-law’s farm in Charlotte, not just for the produce but to ensure his wife, Helen, had frequent visits with her mother.

Albert worked as an oiler for General Motors from 1949 to 1982. He was a proud union member. He attended many union functions, such as the annual picnic at the Lake Lansing Amusement Park where one year he won the blueberry pie-eating contest which resulted in him avoiding blueberry pie for quite some time. Albert was an avid gardener. With his tending you could always count on gorgeous flowers around the house. He and his family harvested and canned vegetables. His peach tree and garden in the backyard had the sweetest, juiciest peaches and tastiest tomatoes. You cannot find these in grocery stores today. He made sauerkraut in the basement which resulted in a unique odor often commented on by his family. Everyone loved his delicious beef vegetable noodle soup.

Family was important to Albert. He taught all of them to ice skate at the Sycamore Park rink. One year he even made a small ice rink in the back yard. Albert loved being with his family so much he drove his wife and all eight children twice down to Disney World in an Oldsmobile station wagon. As he raised his family, many visits with his brothers and sisters occurred where his children enjoyed playing with their cousins and sharing large family meals. He loved to laugh and tell and hear jokes.

He was a devout Catholic and regularly attended The Church of the Resurrection. In recent years he enjoyed Mass televised by St. Thomas Aquinas. He was a faithful attendee of the annual Resurrection Ox Roast. Mom and Dad would visit the Festival all three days for their sandwiches. Always inviting us, to the Ox Roast for dinner often filing two or three tables. He thrilled his wife by winning one of the quilts she made in a raffle.

He was preceded in death by his wife of over 65 years of marriage, Helen; daughter, Rosanne Marita Fluke; parents, Raymond and Elizabeth Vanacker; siblings, Catherine (Leon) Miller, Bernard (Patricia) VanAcker, Mary (Arleigh) Hamilton, Camiel Vanacker, Ralph (Ruth) VanAcker, John (Catherine) VanAcker, and Patricia (Eugene) Schafer; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Frank and Theresa Nemeth, brothers-in-law, Michael, Frank Jr., John L. (Marjorie) and Philip Kemmis; and sisters-in-law, JoAnn VanAcker, Theresa Goodrich, and Mary Nemeth.

Left to cherish him in memory are his children, Maria Vanacker (Lawrence Reynolds), Charlene Vanacker (David McFarlane), Sharon Decker (Michael), Raymond Vanacker, Donald Vanacker, Marti Townsend, and Joseph Vanacker; grandchildren, Jason Vanacker (Ashlee), Pamela (Norman) Kaske, Alex Townsend, and Brandon Townsend; sisters, Martha Kemmis and Elizabeth (Jim) Butterwick; brother, Thomas VanAcker, and sister-in-law, Mildred Vanacker. He enjoyed the company of his grand and great grandchildren. He liked to give them a little pocket money at each visit. He held fond affection for his many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to express our gratitude to all his careworkers, especially Mary P. Their kindness will not be forgotten.

Please join the family for Albert’s Mass of Christian burial on Saturday, March 13, 2021, 11:30 a.m. at The Church of The Resurrection, 1527 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing, MI 48912 with Father Steve Mattson officiating.

The family will receive visitors at The Church of the Resurrection one hour prior to the Mass on Saturday.

Interment will be at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Lansing.

Social distancing and masks are strongly requested so all can be safe.

The family will hold a memorial service and luncheon in the future, hopefully this summer, when we can be safe.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Church of the Resurrection, Meals on Wheels, or your favorite charity.

Those desiring may share fond memories and expressions of sympathy by visiting www.greastlansing.com