John Bernard (Van) Vander Ark
John Bernard (Van) Vander Ark was born in Byron Center, Michigan to parents John and Alyda Vander Ark on July 6, 1933. He was the middle child, and only son. He enjoyed an active childhood. He began piano lessons in first grade; outdoor games were allowed only after first practicing piano under his mother’s watchful eye. He added trumpet lessons in third grade. When in Byron Center Junior High, he marveled at the variety of band instruments and the band director’s ability to play all of them. Thus, he embarked upon his life’s calling, which was to become a “complete instrumentalist” and to share the joy of making music with literally thousands of people. In addition to traditional band instruments, Van learned to play the organ and played for church services for more than fifty years.
Van is survived by his loving wife of 69 years, Lorraine; by son Larry, his wife Sabrina, and their children (Krystal, Amanda/Marlan, and Danielle/Muhib); also by son Mark, his wife Laurie and their children (Aimee and David); by his sister Bonnie Van Wyke; and his brother-in-law Donald Vermeer.
Van’s education shifted to Redlands, California, in 1948, where he graduated from Redlands High School in 1951. He returned to Michigan to attend Calvin College in Grand Rapids, where he majored in Music Education and met his future wife, Lorraine Vaalburg. They were married in Hanford, California, on August 19, 1955, and three weeks later, Van enlisted for a 2-year stint in the U.S. Army. His longest assignment was to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he participated in the 82nd Division Band.
Van was honorably discharged from the Army in 1957 and moved to San Jose to complete one year of graduate work at San Jose State University. From there, he and Lorraine moved to Santa Barbara in 1958 and took teaching positions. Van was hired as the Music Instructor at La Colina Junior High School in 1959, the year the school opened. Van continued teaching at La Colina for his entire career, retiring 34 years later in 1993. The school honored him by naming the building where he taught the “J. B. Vander Ark Performing Arts Wing”.
Van was skilled at capturing the attention of a classroom of more than 100 junior high school students. He was an excellent instructor with high standards for every Concert Band, Jazz Band, Marching Band, and Orchestra he directed. He loved being with his students and found ways to challenge them. Later in his career, his classes included children of students. For many years after his retirement, he would still recognize former students upon meeting, sometimes remembering their names but always remembering what instrument they had played in his classes. Over his career Van directed nearly 600 concerts.
Van was retired for a couple of years, yet music-making continued to be a passion. In 1995, with Lorraine’s help, Van started the Prime Time Senior Band in Santa Barbara. The first meeting of the band included 22 experienced musicians (some who had not played in many years) and 11 complete beginners. Van and Lorraine were both very active with the Prime Time band for 20+ years, and the band continues to have about 60 members today. A few Prime Time band members originally had Van as their La Colina Junior High band teacher.
For recreation, Van and Lorraine enjoyed traveling to new places and spending time in Bend, Oregon. Van was a sports enthusiast, playing tennis and softball for many years. He especially enjoyed watching UCLA basketball.
Van and Lorraine have resided at Samarkand Retirement Community since 2015, where Van enjoyed playing pool, visiting with friends, and playing the piano for special occasions.
Van had a lifelong faith in Jesus Christ and eagerly anticipated meeting his Savior upon finishing his time here. He passed away on December 13 at 6:40 AM. He is greatly missed.
There will be a memorial service at 10 AM on Saturday, February 8, at the First Presbyterian Church, 21 East Constance Avenue in Santa Barbara.