Joe Vanderweide

Joseph H. Vanderweide, 88, a longtime resident of Garden City, Kansas, passed away on Saturday, June 29th at Derby Health and Rehabilitation. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 11, 2024, at Robson Funeral Home, 620 N. Main Street, Garden City, Kansas. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. on Friday at the First United Methodist Church of Garden City, 1106 N. Main Street, Garden City, Kansas. Joe will be laid to rest next to his wife in Valley View Cemetery immediately following the service. Memorial contributions in Joe’s memory may be made to the First United Methodist Church Organ Fund.

Joe was born on November 8, 1935, to Joseph A. “Art” and Pearl (Ruhnke) Vanderweide in Atchison, Kansas. He was raised in Atchison, where he rode a horse every day to a one-room schoolhouse. Before starting 8th grade, a fire forced his family to send him to school in town. Joe was very athletic and played football in high school, where he was an All-State tackle and earned a scholarship to play at Kansas State University. While attending high school, he met Marjorie, and they married on January 28, 1956. Joe graduated from Kansas State University with a bachelor’s degree in architecture.

After finishing college in January of 1959, Joe and his family moved to Garden City, where he took a position with Howard Blanchard Architecture. Joe’s career allowed him to be part of designing many notable buildings in Garden City, including Jennie Wilson Elementary School, Garden City Community College, and the First United Methodist Church, where Joe and Marjorie raised their family and centered their social life. In his later years, Joe would go to the church every night to ensure all the windows and doors were secured. Joe eventually became a partner at Blanchard, Vanderweide, and Filmore, which later became Architecture Plus. During his career, Joe was a member of the American Institute of Architects of Kansas. In 1994, he was appointed to the Kansas State Board of Technical Professionals, where he served for 12 years, including serving as Chairman in 2004.

Outside of the office, Joe was a tireless servant to his church and community. He was a member of the Noon Chapter of the Garden City Lions Club, Masonic Lodge, Order of the Eastern Star, and Boy Scouts. Joe was also a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church, where he served on the Board of Trustees for many years and was involved in Disciple Bible Study. He attended the Pathfinder Sunday School Class and served as the church’s Boy Scout Troop Scoutmaster for many years. As Scoutmaster, Joe ensured the members of his troop got the full Boy Scout experience, keeping them busy with camping trips, Scout Jamborees, and working on their merit badges. He helped guide the Santa Fe Trail District by serving as a board member for several years, as well as serving on the board of UMC Camp Lakeside. Joe loved living in Garden City and always tried to improve his church and community by serving others with care and compassion.

Joe is preceded in death by his loving wife Marjorie (Roark) Vanderweide, his parents, and his brother Ronald A. Vanderweide. He leaves behind his children, Richard A. Vanderweide and Linda L. Innes; his brother, Ed Vanderweide; grandchildren, Shailey Innes and husband Kiel Tracy, Reegan Innes and fiancé Sean Smith, Conner Innes, Jessica Busby and husband Chan, Bryan Vanderweide and wife Stephanie, and Timothy Vanderweide and wife Jessica. He is also survived by his great-grandchildren, Everly, Tinley, Nicholas, Madison, Alex, Elianna, and Ryker. (Arr. Robson Funeral Home – Garden City)