Victor J. Vroegop

1970 - 2021

Victor Vroegop, 51, of Stevensville unexpectedly passed away on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, doing something he loved, working on his house.

Victor John Vroegop was born on April 13, 1970, in Kalamazoo, Mich., to William (Bill) and Ruth (Triemstra) Vroegop. He graduated from Kalamazoo Christian High School, attended Calvin College, and received his bachelor's and master's degrees in education, and educational leadership from Western Michigan University.

For 25 years, Vic was a dedicated teacher, coach and mentor at St. Joseph High School. He became well-known as Mr. V, an educator who taught and influenced thousands of students in woodworking, shop and mechatronics classes as part of the industrial arts program.

In 2012, Vic founded the St. Joe Robotics program as head coach of the team, which is known as the Average Joe's Team 3620. This successful team's results culminated in the recent construction of the Ed Todd Innovation Center, which serves all grades of robotics for SJPS students. In addition, Vic patiently taught hundreds of nervous new drivers as a driver's education instructor for West Coast Driving School. He retired from teaching in 2020 and had spent the last year starting a second career at Eagle Technologies, putting his robotics knowledge to good use.

Vic loved his family; he was intensely proud of his daughters: Becca and Rachel. Outside of work, Vic enjoyed spending time with his family, restoring and building a house overlooking Lake Michigan, and spending time around the water. Vic was truly a gifted craftsman. Whether building a family, a house, a rocking chair, a driver, or fixing a Jet Ski, a retaining wall, or an old Bronco, Vic cared deeply about doing a meticulous and high-quality job. He will be deeply missed by all his loved ones and his community.

Beloved child of God, husband, father, son, brother, uncle, mentor, teacher, coach and friend, Vic is survived by his loving wife, Lisa (Miller) Vroegop; daughters: Rebecca Ruth and Rachel Eileen; parents: William and Ruth Vroegop of Holland, Mich., (formerly of Kalamazoo, Mich.), siblings: Cathryn (Ed) Glas of Raleigh, N.C., William Curtis (Jeni) Vroegop of Richland, Mich., Jessica (Darin) Vroegop Klooster of Holland, Mich.; parents-in-law: Don and Judy Miller of Stevensville; sisters-in-law: Jannette Yergeau and Diane (John) Anstey, both of St. Joseph; brother-in-law, Ken Yergeau of Fort Myers Beach, Fla.; and many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life service will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 9, at Starks and Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph, with Pastor Mark Vroegop officiating. A private burial will follow at Hickory Bluff Cemetery. Friends may visit with the family from 5-7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 8, and on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in c/o Lisa Vroegop for St. Joseph Public Schools Foundation, or St. Joseph High School Robotics Team. Those wishing to leave an online condolence may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 556-9450.