David John Wardenaar

David John Wardenaar, 65, passed away on Tuesday, January 22, 2019. Dave was born on Tuesday, September 22, 1953, to Helen Lorraine and Albert Wardenaar in Mount Vernon, Washington. He was raised on a chicken farm in Mount Vernon, with his three siblings, Les, Pat, and Lori. Growing up, David exuded hard work and a joy for life. His day started with a zero period in school, where he would feed the thousands of Wardenaar chickens.


He later attended Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington, where he was a proud fraternity brother and President of Tau Kappa Epsilon. Walla Walla was the only place he said you could take a bite straight out of a sweet onion and enjoy it. After graduating in 1975 from Whitman, he then got his Master's in Business at Stanford University. His academics concluded in 1977 with a Wall Street Journal award for economics. After moving to Los Angeles to start his career, he met the love of his life, Angelique Melody Ferrio. After going with her to their company party, he knew she would be his wife, partner, best friend and ever-lasting love. The Dutch farm boy from Washington and the vivacious German girl from Pennsylvania eloped later the next year.


They started their family when they moved to Upland, California, where they raised three children, Matthew, Derek, and Monique. David was the "head chef" of his family, always using his mother's amazing farm recipes to craft culinary delights. David was also an avid reader of crime, thrillers, and murder mysteries. David loved mathematics and numbers, achieving his career goal of being a Chief Financial Officer at several large manufacturing companies.


A stroke ended the career he loved so dearly and set the stage for the onslaught of illness he would face in his last 8 years. Losing a leg to diabetes, he still managed to have a smile and crack a joke at his neon limb. He was funny, sweet, generous, and forgiving. The last six years of his life he resided in Rancho Cucamonga, California. At the time of his passing he was in Upland, California. Our father was a great man who led a great life. He loved dearly and was loved dearly. We love you, Dad. The viewing will be held at Forest Lawn, Covina Hills, California on Sunday, February 3rd, 2019 from 9-12. The funeral services of David John Wardenaar will be held at Church of Our Heritage at Forest Lawn, Covina Hills, on Monday, February 4, 2019, at 9:30 a.m. followed by the burial atop Forest Lawn.