Ronald Bryan Vanderlee

Ron was the fifth and youngest son born to Teunis and Renske Vanderlee. He was born on December 23, 1954, in Edmonton, Alberta and spent his early years in Leduc, Alberta. After highschool, Ron earned his plumbing and gasfitting ticket and worked as a contractor. He also started his own plumbing and heating company, R.Vanderlee Plumbing.

Ron and Sharon married in 1973. They started their married life in Edmonton and later moved to the Leduc area. They were active in young couples groups in Ottewell Christian Reformed Church and Ebenezer Christian Reformed Church. These were happy times and the families all supported each other as they raised their young children. Ron was an active member of a church league hockey team in Edmonton and later, a fastball team in Leduc, where he was a pitcher with a wicked windmill! In late 1987, now with six children, Ron and Sharon moved to Terrace, BC to start a new adventure.

After moving to Terrace, Ron spent 28 years in various roles at Pacific Northern Gas. Actively involved in the Terrace Christian Reformed Church and the broader community, Ron also served two terms on Terrace City Council. After retirement and surviving his first difficult battle with cancer, Ron and Sharon hit the road, enjoying four warm winters in Arizona. Their travels allowed them to foster new, long-lasting friendships as well as reconnecting with old friends. But they were always eager to return to their home community in Terrace.

Ron was a hardworking and devoted husband, father and Opa who loved his fishing charters with visiting family and friends, camping and being involved in the children’s sporting activities. He was an avid reader, lover of music and a wealth of useless trivia. He was a diehard Oilers and BlueJays fan. Ron was a very social person; in every community they were part of, he and Sharon spent countless evenings gathering with friends, playing cards and sharing drinks and laughs. He was creative; he loved to draw and paint, and he built furniture, gifts for his grandchildren and other household decorations in his well-equipped woodworking shop, which was a source of pride.

Ron was predeceased by both of his parents, Teunis and Renske Vanderlee, as well as his three older brothers; Willem (Bill), Prosper (Paul) and Frank. He is survived by his wife Sharon of 47 years, 6 children and their spouses: Stacey (Tom) Stolte, Emily, Noah, Miranda, Alyson; Denise (Franklin) Guillaume, Anika, Rhys, Olivia, Alex and Benjamin; David (Melissa) Vanderlee, Jaden and Charly; Julie (Glen) Holt, Caleb, Norah, Will; Jennifer (Clint) Cupido, Jordyn, Tyson, Blake and Halle; Scott (Lindsay) Vanderlee, Zachary, Gabriel and Levi; his brother Tony (Ann) Vanderlee, and many nieces and nephews as well as his best buddy Doug.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 pm, April 16, 2021 at First Christian Reformed Church in Edmonton Alberta, and livestreamed with Rev. Joel Ringma officiating.

Link to livestream: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClybknYmJUNfPGf3GSIzl9Q