Faith drives waste disposal businessman’s life
As one of the leaders of a local waste disposal company and a father of four, George Van Der Molen was strong in his faith and sure of himself until the day he died, his son says.
Van Der Molen was so confident in his beliefs that he didn’t let even his time in the Army during World War II change him.
As a young soldier, Van Der Molen was surprised by the profanity and coarse language his fellow soldiers used, his son, Gary, said. But he made sure not to adopt it.
“All his buddies said ‘Hey, by the time you get out, you’ll be talking the same way we are,’” Gary Van Der Molen said. “He never did. I can’t say I ever heard him say a swear word in his life. He had his beliefs and he stuck with them and he did not alter them, at least when it came to his faith.”
Van Der Molen, of West Chicago, died Wednesday at Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield. He was 86.
His son said Van Der Molen’s life revolved around being a Christian and business owner. With his brothers, he built Van Der Molen Disposal until selling it in 1972. He remained an executive under the new ownership, BFI Waste Systems, even after the sale,
“He worked many, many hours, building the business, and the rest of the time was really devoted to family and church,” his son said. “I remember growing up, it seemed like (faith) was what our whole life centered around.”
Van Der Molen was a charter member of Fellowship Reformed Church in Lombard and later an active member of Faith Community Church in West Chicago. He served as an elder and deacon in his churches and also was a leader and board member with several other Christian organizations. He did it all because he trusted it was right.
“He was not someone to back down when he felt he was in the right or he knew he was in the right,” Van Der Molen said. “He didn’t bow to outside pressures.”
That same ability to stick with his beliefs served George well as a businessman, his son said. George could be tough, but those who worked with him knew he was “a spiritual man, a very good friend, always willing to help someone out.”
George and his wife of 65 years, Alice, were a good team, agreeing on matters of faith and family until Alice’s death last year, Gary Van Der Molen said. The couple had four sons, one of whom died a few years ago in a car accident. But the three living sons, Gary, Russell and Dennis, all live in West Chicago and remain very close, using their father’s residence as a home base for family gatherings throughout the years, Gary said.
Along with his children, Van Der Molen is survived by seven grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and two sisters-in-law. Visitation will be held from 1 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Main St., Wheaton. A funeral will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Faith Community Church, 910 Main St., West Chicago. Instead of flowers, donations can be made to Faith Community church.