Jacqueline Lee Van Gilder

Jaqueline (Jackie) Lee Vangilder passed away on June 29, 2024, surrounded by family at her home at Franke Tobey Jones Memory Care. She was 93 years old.
Jackie was born on November 30, 1930 in Sioux City, Iowa to Vernon and Marguerite Anderson. She was born into the large extended Kinney family of Nebraska farmers. When Jackie was seven years old, her parents moved to West Seattle, but throughout her childhood she continued to visit her grandparents and many cousins in Nebraska. Jackie graduated from West Seattle High School and made the Pacific Northwest her home the rest of her life. In 1970, Jackie and her two children, Susan and Richard Thompson, moved to Vashon Island. Jackie went to work for a then young K-2 company. Jackie always spoke very fondly of her years working at K2 where she was promoted to Marketing Services Manager. After 20 years at K2, Jackie retired in 1990.
In 1972, Jackie met and married Don Vangilder on Vashon. They built a house in Sandy Shores, spent many winters in Rio Bend, California, traveled the world, and enjoyed 25 wonderful years together before Don passed away.
Jackie was not one to let moss grow under her feet. She led an active, engaged and adventurous life in her retirement. She was a quilter, a knitter and a card maker. Jackie was a devoted mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend. She cherished her Vashon community and her Vashon Methodist Church family. In her retirement, she volunteered her time at the Methodist Church, at Seattle Public Library, the Seattle Art Museum and the Vashon Food Bank.
Jackie also loved to travel. She visited China, Russia, Australia, Burma, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand, and many European countries before hanging up her traveling shoes in 2014. Jackie was also a frequent visitor to New York City visiting with her only grandchild, Noah, his wife Anne, and her adored great grandchildren, Dylan and Bennett.
Jackie is survived by her daughter, Susan Thompson, who often stated that her mom was her rock. She is also survived by her son-in-law, Scott Engelhard of Vashon Island and his daughters, Claire and Adria Engelhard; her grandson Noah Roy, his wife Anne Roy and their children, Dylan and Bennett of New York, and many Kinney cousins in Nebraska and elsewhere. Jackie was preceded in death by her husband, Don Vangilder and her son, Richard Thompson. Jackie's family would like to express their deep gratitude to the nursing and caregiving staff at Franke Tobey Jones Memory Care for their compassionate, tender and attentive care during her last year of life.
A small, private family gathering to celebrate Jackie's life is planned for August. If you wish to donate to the Vashon Island Food Bank in her honor that would be received with gratitude. You are invited to share remembrances of Jackie on the Island Funeral Service's website at www.islandfuneral.com