Chris Edward Vanden Broeke
Chris Edward Vanden Broeke, 76, a resident of N. Ft. Myers and a native of Denver, CO, passed away Thursday, March 26, 2020 in Cape Coral, FL. He was born January 21, 1944 in Denver to Marinus and Fannie Vanden Broeke, now deceased.
Chris was a graduate of Denver Christian High School, Denver, CO and was a member of the First Christian Reformed Church, Denver. He was self-employed for many years before joining Belfor Restoration where he retired as a superintendent. Chris loved hunting with his sons and grandchildren. He thoroughly enjoyed his lunches with his sister and cruising with friends as well as collecting coins.
He was married to Ruth Slater on March 30, 1962 and remained married for over 50 years before her passing 2017.
Chris is survived by his three loving children, Jeanne Beaulieu (Dan) of N. Ft. Myers, FL, Troy Vanden Broeke (Tania) of Centennial, CO, and Travis Vanden Broeke (Jenni) of Blaine, MN; three siblings, Margie Parks, Shirley Stark and Jim Vanden Broeke. He also treasured his eight grandsons, three granddaughters; and the apple of his eye, his great granddaughter, Ari; as well as many, many nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was also preceded in death two by sons, Terry and Todd Vanden Broeke and his sister, Lorraine Baxter.
Due to the current environment in our country, private family committal services will be held at the Chapel Hill Cemetery, Centennial, CO with Pastor Joel Schreurs officiating.
A Celebration of Life will be planned at a later date. Details to be announced via www.MullinsMemorial.com
Memorial Contributions in memory of Chris Vanden Broeke are suggested to Volunteers in Action care of First Christian Reformed Church, 1814 S. Emerson Street, Denver, CO 80210 or Moffitt Cancer Center Foundation 12902 Magnolia Drive MBC-FOUND Tampa, FL 33612 or Kids Minds Matter, PO Box 2218, Fort Myers, Florida 33902.
Mullins Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cape Coral, is entrusted with final care in Florida.
Olinger Chapel Hill Mortuary is entrusted with final care in Colorado.
He was a very special friend first and special brother. I will miss him so very much. How we loved to go on trips and go to CA to visit our brother and sister, We had some great times. Can’t begin to say how much I loved him and will miss him. So grateful he is in a better place with no pain and suffering. Love you Chris
Your family is in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
Our sympathy to the family! We are praying for comfort during this time.
We met Chris & Ruth in 1972 when we moved to Denver. We express our sympathy to the family. Gods love to you.
Ken and Marlene Wynkoop
Our thoughts and prayers for your family.
Your Denver Christian classmates
Verne and Frieda Vankooten
May God bring his comfort, peace, love and hope to each of us who have known and loved Chris. He will definitely be missed here on earth but we rejoice that he’s home now.
May Our God of all comfort give your family peace.
We’re thinking about Chris’s family at this time and are praying for God’s grace for everyone. I enjoyed being in the Class of ‘61 with him!
Your family is in our prayers. As he said when my mom passed ,it is an Honor to be a part of this.family. H e was a special person! H e is now where we all long to be!
He was an amazing, loving uncle to me and also to my children. He could hug like no other. You felt loved when Chris gave you a hug! Since he was only 10 years older than me, he felt like a big brother. I will miss him terribly but happy he has been reunited with his family in heaven!
I enjoyed my time With Chris at with His wife’s memorial in 2017.
One of my memerories is going to Aunt Fannys and getting a hair cut.. We were all kids me and Chris and Junior. I enjoyed my time with them we all went to school and graduated and it was a lot of wonderful years we spent together.
I met Chris when I went to work at Belfor and was blessed to have his friendship. He was a wonderful man. My thoughts are with the family for comfort during this difficult time. He will be missed! ❤️
We are thinking of you at this difficult time.
We are so happy we were able to spend time with him this year. He was a wonderful man.
I know Chris as Jeanie’s Dad. He appeared to me to be a gentle soul. A man who looked up and cherished his Daughter, along with the rest of his kids, grandkids and family. I know Chris had a heart for God and am confident he’s seated at the right hand. I imagine he’s is asking for a blanket of protection spread out over his family. Prayers of comfort to Jeanie and all who mourn his passing.
May God bless you Mightily and comfort you during this time. I am a friend of Mr. Vanden Broeke ‘s daughter Jeanne and I have seen the depth of love and commitment as she moved her dad into her home where he had the very best care and quality of life surrounded by the love and affection of family. Jeanne and Dan, Gabby, Mia, and Christopher and Chris you are amazing and I know your father /grandfather is smiling and watching over you all…. until you meet again.
Chris and I both believe we were “firsts” in the boyfriend/girlfriend category. Growing up my mom was very close to the Vanden Broeke family. I had been emailing Chris when I found out he was so sick, but was also feeling bad lately because I hadn’t been keeping in touch. I am so sad for all of his family and all of us, his friends. I had emailed him that our class would be having a reunion in 2021 and he should be there! He is having a much better reunion in 2020 in Heaven!!
Jeri Engler Class of 61
Chris was known to me as my Uncle Chris, he was my Grandma’s youngest brother. I moved to California from Denver at a young age, so Uncle Chris and I used to write letters to each other. I always loved the anticipation of when I’d receive the letter back. When letters turned into Facebook, he still would always say the most positive things and lifted me up when I was down. He will be missed, but he is home now.
Chris was a good pal, neighbor and classmate. Lots of memories.
God bless
Dan & Ann Spykstra
My sympathy to Chris’s family. He was such a kind and gentle person.
Lynda ( Wright) VandeVusse
Class of 61
So very sorry for Chris’ passing. Rest assured he is in a better place. I knew Chris for over 50 years. He was a tease, just like my dad. I babysat all of his and Ruth’s children and watched them grow up. I lost contact for many years, but we reunited at my dad’s funeral and kept in touch. Always enjoyed hearing from him. We have lost a friend but God has gained an angel.
Sorry to hear of Chris’s passing. I remember him as a kind and gentle person. My sympathy to his family .
Lynda VandeVusse
Class of 61
.
Thanks for all the great times and great talks we had.. Playing ball for DCHS and double dating with you and
Ruth. We had wonderful times together and you were a true and special friend. You will be missed buddy and
I look forward to seeing you in Heaven. Norm Davids
You will be missed my friend. We had great fun and great talks together – remembering playing ball for DCHS
and double dating with you and Ruth. I do appreciate the times we had together. I am looking forward to
seeing you in Heaven buddy. Norm and Char Davids
Goodbye to one of my best friends. I’m so glad the Lord took him before he suffered more. My sincere condolences to the family.
Chris was such a nice man. He didn’t even mind that our social club was all women. He was just happy to go along with all of us wherever we wanted to go. He was always smiling and joking with us. I am so glad I got to spend some time with him and know some day we will all be together again.
I met Chris in 1987 at BAJ construction. He was the consummate professional, superb craftsman, and a great gentleman! Truly a man to be proud of. God bless his soul and his family.
.Chris will be remembered as a close, honest,and faithful friend. We liked each other in 3rd grade and never stopped enjoying each others company. He was a true Gentleman! We have lost a caring friend!!