Robert L. Van Voorhies February 21, 1915 ~ January 23, 2008
		Draucker Funeral Home 700 N. Spruce Street Post Office Box 296 Ogallala, NE 69153 Ph:  308.284.4021

 OBITUARY

Robert L. Van Voorhies, 92, died Jan. 23, 2008 in Linden Court at North Platte, NE. He had been a longtime resident of Mountainside, NJ. In 1999 he and his wife Evelyn moved to WEL-Life in Ogallala, NE, close to his daughter Lynn E. McGaha. He lived there and briefly at Indian Hills Manor until 2002, when he moved to Linden Court in North Platte, NE.

He was born on February 21, 1915 in Sharon, PA to Robert B. and Elsie Voorhies. He grew up in Clairton, PA and graduated from high school there. He attended the University of Pittsburgh and graduated with honors in 1936 with a Bachelors of Science in Chemical Engineering, which led to a 39 year career as a chemical engineer in the Research and Engineering division of Standard Oil of New Jersey in Linden, NJ, a predecessor of Esso, then Exxon, and now ExxonMobil. He was a licensed Professional Engineer in the state of New Jersey and was a co-inventor on 3 patents. His expertise was in developing pilot plants, engine testing of lubricants, and dynamometer testing. He was active in the Esso Research Club until his retirement in 1975 and was a 55 year life member of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE).
 

Van Voorhies was a disabled veteran of World War II, having served in active duty in the U.S. Army from May 1941 through January 1946. He initially served in Newfoundland, and then with the 562nd Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion until being injured by a mine/booby trap on March 10, 1945 near Julich, Germany while protecting bridges over the Roer River. He had reached the rank of Captain and was awarded the Purple Heart and service medals.

In May 1941 he married Dolores Schiffl and they lived in Newfoundland until his deployment overseas. After the war they lived in Elizabeth and Roselle, NJ, after which, in 1950, they moved into a home they built in Mountainside, NJ, and in which they raised their 5 children. Dolores passed on in 1990, and in 1991 Robert married Evelyn Tuttle of Mountainside, NJ, where they continued to live until moving to Nebraska in 1999.

Van Voorhies was an active participant in community affairs. He was a long-time member of the Community Presbyterian Church of Mountainside, NJ, having served as elder, trustee, and in the choir. He helped restore the church’s pipe organ and was a driving force with involvement in most church projects. He was a cub master in Cub Scouts and scoutmaster in Boy Scouts. He volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, a suicide prevention hotline, and in assisting troubled youth in the court system.

He was a member of Sanger Chor of Newark, the Westfield Glee Club, the Choral Art Society of Westfield, and the Westfield Tennis Club. He played the French horn in college and in community bands. He enjoyed sailing, tennis, badminton and motorcycle riding. He was a skilled craftsman with hobbies of boat building, woodworking, metalworking, and welding, and was a fix-it man for many appreciative friends.
 

Survivors include a daughter, Lynn E. McGaha and her husband Lynn H. of Brule, NE; 4 sons: Robert R. Van Voorhies and his wife Carlene of Bloomfield Hills, MI; Craig Van Voorhies of Ann Arbor, MI; Kurt VanVoorhies and his wife Yoshiko of De Tour Village, MI, and Wayne Van Voorhies and his wife Laurie of Las Cruces, NM; 3 step-daughters: Lois Little and her husband Frank of Sullivan, MO; Wendy Pokorny of Park Ridge, NJ; Linda Thornburg and her husband Steven of Yreka, CA; a sister, Margaret Kieffer of Blanchester, OH; 5 grandchildren: Michelle Van Voorhies of Birmingham, MI, John Van Voorhies of Portland, OR; Erin Van Voorhies and Julia Van Voorhies of Ann Arbor, MI, and Skyler Van Voorhies of Las Cruces, NM; 8 step-grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren, 8 step great-grandchildren; a brother-in-law Robert Schiffl and wife Wanda of Westfield, NJ; two sister-in-laws: Elizabeth Lembrich of Neshanic Station, NJ and Laura Voorhies of Woburn, MA; and nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by two wives, Dolores Van Voorhies in 1990 and Evelyn Van Voorhies in 1999, a brother William Voorhies, and brother-in-laws Edward Lembrich and Michael Kieffer.

Memorials may be directed to the 20th Century Veteran’s Memorial in North Platte, NE, the Community Presbyterian Church of Mountainside, NJ, or the National Hydrocephalus Foundation.

A memorial service will be held at the Community Presbyterian Church in Mountainside, NJ on March 29.

Draucker Funeral Home of Ogallala is in charge of arrangements.