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BORN
1920
DIED
2010
Yvonne Van Doren Obituary
1920 - 2010
Yvonne Van Doren Redding educator and musician, died in Chico, CA surrounded by her family, early in the morning on Sunday, November 21, 2010. Born February 5, 1920, in Nashua, Iowa, to Fritz Harold and Clara Miller Steelhammer, she was the oldest of three children.
She grew up in Galvin, Washington, graduated from Centralia High School in 1936, Centralia Junior College in 1938, and received her elementary teaching credential in 1939 from Western Washington Teachers College in Bellingham, WA.
She married her college sweetheart, Don Van Doren, in 1940 in Centralia, WA. There they raised six children before moving to Redding, CA in 1963. A dedicated and gifted musician, Yvonne played piano and organ throughout her high school and college years and became the organist at the First Christian Church in Centralia and the First United Methodist Church in Redding, totaling 60 plus years of service at her retirement when she turned 80. In addition to her music, Mrs. Van Doren taught elementary school in La Conner and Centralia, WA and Mistletoe Elementary in Redding, retiring in 1984. She touched the lives of thousands of church attendees and hundreds of students during her dual careers.
She was predeceased by her youngest daughter, Kathryn Elaine Van Doren, in 1968; her husband, Donald Arthur, in 1992; her younger brother, George Steelhammer, in 2010.
She is survived by her brother and sister-in-law, Page and Margaret Steelhammer, of Centralia, and five children and their spouses: Marilyn Barry (Michael); Elizabeth Clover (Robert); Marcia Samuels (David); Yvonne Gillan (Kevin); and Robert Van Doren (Melinda). She leaves behind nine grandchildren, twenty-one great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, and kind and caring friends of many years.
A memorial service will be held at the United Methodist Church, Redding, CA.,
(East & South Sts.) on Monday December 13, 2010, at 11:00 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the memorial fund at the United Methodist Church or the Good News Rescue Mission, Redding, CA, in care of the funeral home. You may share your thoughts and memories of Yvonne online under the care of Newton-Bracewell Funeral Homes at nbcfh.com.
Please sign the guestbook at http://obituaries.redding.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Yvonne Van Doren
Barbara Allpress
December 13, 2010
Robert & siblings,
So sorry to hear about your mother. When I look back on when I attended church as a child, I always enjoyed when your mom was either playing the organ or the piano. She was such a fixture to the church. Our thoughts and prayers are with your family. Mom is not well or she would be at your mom's funeral.
Barbara Allpress & Family
Jenny, Dean and Paul Moyer
December 12, 2010
Dear Robert & Melinda and all the Van Dorens,
Please know that our thoughts are with you during this difficult time. We have watched for many years, with admiration, the attentiveness and loving care you gave to Yvonne. She was a talented person, who left a legacy of musical memories, and will be missed by many.
Our hearts go out to you and your sisters.
Love,
Bonnie and Gene Doyle
December 9, 2010
Dear Yvonne, Kevin and all those who had the joy of living in her orbit. Our sincerest condolences for a very significant loss. She lives on in the lives of those she affected so deeply and will never be forgotten.
Laurie Harding
December 8, 2010
The Estrada kids send thoughts & prayers to the family. Mrs Van Doren was our teacher at Mistletoe School years ago.
Norma Earl
December 8, 2010
I send my best wishes and condolences to all of Yvonne's family. Your mother was a wonderful woman, and someone I'll always deeply appreciate. She and my mother enjoyed a very special and dear friendship for many, many years. I remember when our family first moved to Redding in the early 60's, and our mothers met at the Methodist Church. They enjoyed many wonderful times together, and supported each other through some deep sorrows. When my mother began her fight with ALS, Yvonne remained her true friend through the very end. Mom always lit up when her very dearest friend arrived at the house for a visit. I know the loss of a mother makes a very deep hole in your heart and in your life. I am thinking about all of you as you support each other through this difficult time, and as you remember your beautiful, wonderful mother. She will be deeply missed by many.
Katie & Michael Hutton
December 8, 2010
Robert, Melinda and family. Michael and I are very sorry for your loss and wish we could be there for the service on Monday. We are thinking of you all and sending our love and comfort. Yvonne will be missed by everyone.
Kathy Kvam
December 8, 2010
Dear Marcia,
Remember me, Kathy Kvam from Shasta College and Chico State in the 60's and early 70's? OMG! I just wanted to pass on my sympathy to you for the loss of your mother. It sounds like she had a very fulling life with her contributions to many causes. I may have met your mom while living in Redding or Chico but I just can't remember.
I hope you are well and it would be very nice to hear from you. I'm living in Port Orchard, WA with a sister and brother not too far away, across Puget Sound east from me. I've been here since 1990 when I so gratefully moved away from VA. It was never home to me.
I would return to Chico in a heart beat if I could and if it was the right thing to do. I remember my first visit to Chico thinking, "I'd love to live here the rest of my life." I guess it just wasn't meant to be. I have never lost my love for that town and my friends while in college. I know you can never go back to the way things were but, Chico and my college friends will hold a special place in my heart forever.
Again, my condolences to you and your family.
A friend from the past, hoping to hear from you.
Kathy Kvam
[email protected]
3976 Coronet Pl., SE
Port Orchard, WA 98366
360-876-3706
leslie Reynolds
December 8, 2010
Dear Mrs.VanDorens family,sorry to hear you have lost a wonderful mom and grandmother. She was my elementary teacher at mistletoe. She was a very patient and compassionate woman. I have very fond memories of her. Love and peace to your family, leslie Reynolds
Karen (Nachreiner) Dunbar
December 8, 2010
Robert and family, I am so sorry for your loss.
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