VanArden Sander

HOUSTON -- VanArden Arnold Sander, 91, of Houston, formerly of Cape Girardeau, died Sunday, Feb. 14, 2016, at his home in Texas.

He was born April 9, 1924, in Cape Girardeau to Arthur and Emma Pauline Rubel Sander.

VanArden attended Campster School, was a graduate of Central High School and attended Southeast Missouri State University.

He was drafted into the Army at the age of 18 during World War II. He was a corporal in the 15th Army Air Corps and was stationed in Italy and Africa.

He worked as a teller at Farmers and Merchants Bank, when he met his bride to be, Rosemary Ida Himmelsbach. They married in 1949. He then was promoted to loan officer, where he stayed for 39 years. He retired from Bank of America in 1984. He then went into the insurance business part time and sold real estate for Jeannie Owens at Owens Realty for many years.

VanArden was a member of the Travelers Protective Association; a member and state grand counselor of United Commercial Travelers, where he served 50 years on many committees; a 45-year Kiwanis Club member; a 50-year VFW member and an usher in his church. He was baptized, raised and confirmed in the Evangelical Church of Christ, where he served on several committees and as an usher.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Rosemary Ida Sander of Houston; two sons, Timothy Wayne Sander of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Terence Neil Sander and wife, Holly, and grandson, Cameron Andrew Sander of Houston; and a sister, Janice Sander Dettmann of St. Louis.

He was preceded in death by his parents and seven brothers and sisters.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

The funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Daniel Johnson officiating. Burial will be at Cape County Memorial Park in Cape Girardeau.

Memorial contributions may be given to pet adoptions at the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.