Rodney Bruce Vandervort

Rodney Bruce Vandervort, age 60, died May 13, 2011.

The oldest child of Charles and Joyce (Runkle) Vandervort, he was born on November 16, 1950. He graduated from Elkhart High School with the class of 1969.

Bruce’s Father died when he was only 11 years old.

He married Patricia Jean Dougherty on November 18, 1972.

He is survived by his wife, Pat of Elkhart, Ks; three daughters Shalah Rall and husband, Jeff, and son Evan, Brewster, Ks; Jara Malchow and husband Jason, and children Kaeden, Wyatt, Emerson and Lydia, Everly, Ia; Tra Grice and husband Bob, and daughters, Samantha and Ella, Amarillo, Tx; parents Joyce and Gene Cyr, Garden City, Ks; one brother, Randy Vandervort and wife Kellie, Kansas City, Ks; one sister, Charla Collinsworth, Park Hill, Ok; stepbrother Doug Cyr and wife Chris; stepsister Anita Ankerholtz; stepbrother David Cyr and wife Janice; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He is preceeded in death by his father, Charles Vandervort in November 1961 and brother-in-law Rodney Collinsworth in January 2011, and many four-legged best friends.

Bruce was a very quiet laid back man, until you started talking about his grandkids or scuba diving. He was very proud to have had three college educated daughters and the opportunity to walk all three of them down the aisle. He always said he couldn’t have picked better son-in-laws if he had chosen them himself. Upon becoming a grandfather, you could always find one of the grandkids in his arms. He has a large group of close friends and he enjoyed going to the lake fishing , scuba diving and traveling with. He and his wife Pat were looking forward to an upcoming trip to Italy with friends. Bruce could always be found hanging out on the back porch or at the man cave.

Memorial service will be held Monday, May 16, 2011 at 10:30 AM at First Church of God in Elkhart, Kansas with Pastor Christopher M. Fincher officiating. Memorials may be given to the Elkhart Middle School in care of Garnand Funeral Home, PO Box 854, Elkhart, KS 67950.