This page commemorate the life of my father Willem Vandergeld
Willem A. van der Geld 1912 - 1997 Click on the picture for more information
Ma & Dad visiting in the Netherlands. my cousin Kees Vandergeld is in the middle
This is on Ma & Dad 40th wedding anniversary, that is ME right behind my parents
My Dad Wim van der Geld at age 16 in 1928
On February 16, 1954 after 10 days at sea on the ship Groote Beer( Big Bear), the family Willem van der Geld arrived by boat in New York harbor, to start a new life in the United States
My father in 1954
Click on this picture to see his other page
from left to right John Major Jr. Wim van der Geld Jr. John Major Sr., Willem van der Geld Sr. in 1954
Here my Dad, Willem van der Geld who is relaxing from a busy day working. This was in our first house located on Leonard Street in Grand Rapids, the year was 1957
As you can see we also had purchased our first Admiral TV.
The house was simple but comfortable
From New York our family went for three (3) days by train to our final destination, Grand Rapids Michigan. Our Uncle John and Aunt Marie sponsored us, so we could start our new life in the United States of America
Here are my parents on their way to get their marriage license
Marriage records in those days
The one with the pointed arrow is Grandpa Willem van der Geld when he was in Reoboth grade school in Naarden, Netherlands. The year about 1924