Dr. Don Vanherck

            Don VanHerck, 82 of Bismarck, passed away October 9, 2017 at Barnes Jewish North in St. Louis. He was born August 17, 1935, in Bismarck, to the late Theodore August and Grace Diantha (Keay) VanHerck. Don was only 16 years old when he took his first solo flight and received his pilot’s license on his 17th Birthday. He enjoyed wood working, gardening, rebuilding airplanes, Volkswagens, hunting and fishing. Don was instrumental in keeping baseball active in the Bismarck area. He started the Babe Ruth Baseball league in 1978, and was the manager of the first Babe Ruth team and went on to win the state championship against Columbia. Don loved the college as well as his community and showed this by serving 43 years on the Mineral Area College Board and was the director of UniTec Career Center from 1973 to 1997.   

            He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Melba Jean (Hasty) VanHerck; one brother, Glen Theodore VanHerck; four sisters, Marie Klophaus, Leona Shroeder, Louise Strader and Irene Hughes. 

            Don is survived by two children, Jan Marie (Mrs. Terry) Skinner and Major General Glen VanHerck and wife Marilyn; two grandchildren, Adam David Skinner and Molly Jean (Ensign Taylor) Scott; nephew, Dave (Kimberly) Strader; three nieces, Jeri Hurt, Jackie Scott, and Dinah Seear; and long-time loving companion, Judith Jarvis. 

            A Memorial gathering will begin at 3:00 PM until 5:00 PM at Mineral Area College in the Theatre, Sunday, October 15, 2017, with a Celebration of Life at 3:30 PM. A private graveside service will be held at the St. John’s Lutheran Church Cemetery in Bismarck. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Mineral Area College in memory of Dr. Don VanHerck or the American Diabetes Association.  

View tribute and share your memories and condolences at www.czboyer.com.