Stephen VanderPloeg

VANDER PLOEG - Stephen Mark. After a long period of mystery, family and friends now know that Stephen Mark VanderPloeg entered the grace, mercy and peace of God's presence on February 17, 2005. Steve was born in Grand Rapids on October 23, 1961. He particularly enjoyed the autumn season and returned to Michigan many times to walk in the woods, enjoy the crisp fall air and to go hunting with friends. After graduating from Wyoming Park High School in 1979, Steve enlisted with the U.S. Marine Corps and served honorably for four years domestically and overseas. He later served as an officer in the U.S. Naval Reserve. Steve earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California - Irvine and his Master of Business Administration degree from Pepperdine University and enjoyed a successful business career as a computer systems sales engineer. California was Steve's home for most of his adult life. It is where he met and married his wife, Gina Vetti, and where their two sons, Jacob and Mark, were born and raised. Steve loved and cherished Jacob and Mark. He served as their Indian Guide leader and often took them on camping trips, hikes in the mountains, and travels across the country. In addition to his immediate family, Steve's survivors include his parents, Ed and Maxine VanderPloeg; his brothers and their wives, Ed and Beth VanderPloeg, Jim VanderPloeg and Dave and Becky VanderPloeg; his parents-in-law, Lee and Rose Vetti of California; Gina's siblings and their spouses, Charlene and Greg Schofield, Paula and Joe Rubinstein, and Rick and Vickie Vetti; his uncles and aunts, Don and Joy Swets, Bob and Janet VanderPloeg and John and Elaine VanderBaan; and many cousins, nephews and nieces; along with lifelong friend, Mark Wieda and his wife, Carol. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Peter and Theresa Vander Ploeg and John and Roselyn VanderBaan; and cousin, Bob Swets. Visitation is scheduled from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, May 1 at Cook Funeral Home, 4235 Prairie Street, Grandville. Steve's Memorial Service will occur at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 2 at John Knox Presbyterian Church, 4150 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, led by Reverend Richard Campbell, with interment at Resurrection Cemetery, 4100 Clyde Park Avenue SW. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to support the education of Steve's sons. Checks should be made payable to Fidelity Investments f.b.o. Jacob VanderPloeg and Mark VanderPloeg and sent to Diversified Securities Inc., Attn: Rubinstein, 1000 Lakes Drive #420, West Covina, California 91790. Cook Funeral and Cremation Services