volume 3 issue 2 December 2010 21st
tma!s s i r h C ition Ed Our
Extra Innings for Family
Joe and Jack Vander Stelt pose for a photo at Target Field
Above: Jack Vander Stelt fields a ball Right: Joe and Jack pose with Twins players Nick Punto and Michael Cuddyer Below: The baseball bat made by Joe as a 4H project for the fair
Looking back at the summer of 2010, found the family plugged into America’s pastime in many ways. Baseball filled many hours of the day as Jack’s passion for the game was evident in his zeal for playing as much ball as he could. The Maurice 5th grader was an intimidating presence on the mound as the 5’10” hurler struck out some pint-sized 5th grade opponents. When he wasn’t pitching, he could most often be found playing first base. But the love for baseball didn’t stop with playing the game. Jack and John took a day trip with friends Jack and Jamie Durham to Omaha to see one of the final College World Series games that were played at historic Rosenblatt Stadium. It was a hot day, but great fun watching TCU defeat UCLA. The entire family enjoys watching their favorite team, the 2010 AL Central Division Champion Minnesota Twins and had the opportunity to see them play three different times over the course of the season. The family of four travelled to Kansas City and watched the Twins crush the Royals 19-1. An added bonus was seeing Twins players Michael Cuddyer and Nick Punto while shopping in the Country Club Plaza area of KC. The players graciously stopped to pose for a photo–a huge thrill for the entire family! Later in the season the family traveled to Minneapolis on two separate occasions to experience the beautiful new home of the Twins, Target Field where they saw games against the Rangers and BlueJays. And while Joe Vander Stelt did not PLAY baseball this year, he did have a baseball related accomplishment. As a project for the 4-H fair, the Maurice woodsmith turned a dandy baseball bat on the lathe. The finished bat won Grand Champion in its’ division at the county fair and went on to the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines.
Chili an Minors
Undisclosed sources within the Iowa DOT confirm that there have been sightings of 16 year old Joe Vander Stelt, a minor, driving with friends to the “Chili Bash” in Sioux Center for dinner. At age 15, Vander Stelt had his school permit which allowed him to drive a direct route to and from school in Orange City to home in Maurice. Now that he has turned 16, Iowa law provides him the freedom to travel all roads with his license. “In some ways this reminds me of the Chilean miners being freed. Being able to drive anywhere opens up a whole new world.” stated Vander Stelt
Merry Christmas
The Vander Stelts and Riskedahls pose for a family photo after enjoying a meal at Eldons Restaurant in Sioux City in July
Gridiron Efforts Yield Successful Seasons
Gazette sports writers enjoyed covering the athletic endeavors of University of Iowa prospects Joe and Jack Vander Stelt who both enjoyed successful seasons on the gridiron this fall. Joe, a sophomore at MOC-Floyd Valley High School completed an undefeated season on the JV squad, but also ended up starting on the varsity kle tac a Storm Lake rple) manhandles squad at the position of offensive tackle Joe Vander Stelt (pu for over half of the season and earned his first varsity letter. Jack also enjoyed success with his NYFL team winning the FedEx Orange Bowl game, finishing 3rd place in a league of 28 Northwest Iowa teams. Jack Vander Stelt enjoyed youth football
Couple’s Ship Comes In
North and South of the Border
Joe Vander Stelt, 16, of Maurice had a busy summer filled with work as well as some memorable trips abroad. He worked a variety of places doing construction and farm work and highlights of the summer months included two rewarding trips that Travel and Leisure reporters, John and Denise Vander Stelt, embarked on a voyage took him outside the borders of the United States. The two trips were practically back to back. In June, Joe departed for a week long to the Caribbean in January of 2010. excursion canoeing the John had surprised Denise at Christmas boundary waters along the with the gift of a week long cruise. They Canadian border. He joined flew to Miami on January 25 with good a group of eight with the friends, Brett and Nora Mulder. The organization Coldwater, four Iowans then set sail on the Royal canoed nearly 50 miles Caribbean Navigator of the Seas and enjoyed days at sea and stops in the ports at and portaged 15-20 times during the course of the week Cozumel and Belize. through all kinds of weather. It was John’s first When asked about the trip, Guatemalan family with old tin home (left) and new home (right) cruising experience Vander Stelt replied, “It was a grueling amount of work, and when I got home I and he enjoyed the didn’t think I’d want to go again. Now looking back, the rewarding accomplishment leisurely days filled makes me want to give it another go.” with laughter, shows, Then two days after returning from Canada, he got on a plane with a group of 32 entertainment and of people from Maurice Reformed Church to do mission work in Guatemala. During course fabulous food. the week-long trip the group conducted two medical clinics, and built five homes for A life-long dream Guatemalan families. of Denise was Joe’s passion for construction served him well as his group completed a home in fulfilled when the couple was treated to a three days. Each home was framed, sheet rocked, stuccoed and made complete with snorkeling excursion in the tropical waters an awning on the front. Prior to these homes being built, the families were living in of Belize. Denise took to the snorkeling like very primitive tin huts. The group from a...fish to water. Maurice came home feeling truly blessed The couple enjoyed the trip a great deal by the time they spent in Guatemala. Scheduling travel within the Vander and look forward to cruising again. Stelt family was a challenge in 2010 and it resulted in an unorthodox series of At the Movies Rated on a scale of 1-10 popcorns. short trips, but it certainly didn’t seem to Jack Joe Denise John Despicable Me. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 keep the family at home all year. Unstoppable. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7. . . . . . . . 6. . . . . . .81/2. . . . . . . 4 Early in the year, John made a Secretariat. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6. . . . . . . . 6. . . . . . . 7 . . . . . . . 6 business trip to Charlotte, NC to do The Next Three Days. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . 8 . . . . . . . 7 a photo shoot at Joe Gibbs Racing. The Other Guys. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8. . . . . . . . 7 1 1 While there, he had the privilege of The Social Network. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 6 /2. . . . . . 7 /2 The Town. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . 7 . . . . . . 71/2 art directing a photo shoot of NFL and Dinner for Schmucks. . . . . . . . . . . . 4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 . . . . . . . 4 NASCAR great Joe Gibbs and driver Toy Story 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 . . . . . . . 8. . . . . . . 10. . . . . . . 9 Matt DiBenedetto. Vander Stelt was also Robin Hood. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 treated to a tour of the impressive Gibbs Ironman 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81/2. . . . . . 61/2. . . . . . . 6 . . . . . . 61/2 1 facility by Joe Gibbs personally. Winning Favor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7. . . . . . . . 7. . . . . . .7 /2. . . . . . . 7 Date Night. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5. . . . . . . . 8. . . . . . . 7 . . . . . . . 6 The Vander Stelt family did find time Crazy Heart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . 7 . . . . . . . 8 to spend a long weekend together in Shutter Island. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61/2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71/2 Kansas City, where they dined on some Inception. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8. . . . . . . . 8. . . . . . .61/2. . . . . . . 8 famous BBQ, which is a family favorite.
Beckyleaks Classified Documents in 2010
Becky Riskedahl, Gazette correspondent in Orange City, leaked the news earlier this summer. She and her husband Andy would be making job changes. Andy completed his degree from St. Lukes’ School of Nursing in Sioux City and also landed a position working as a nurse on the 5th floor at St. Lukes in Sioux City. Becky also changed employers this year. She had been working as a supervisor at a waiver home for Hope Haven, and in August landed a new position as an aide at MOC Floyd Valley Elementary School in Orange City. She devotes her time to working with the special needs children. Andy & Becky are both enjoying their new work very much.
Serious Storm Hits Maurice
The Vander Stelt family was awakened early in the morning of July 22, when a major storm hit the town of Maurice. While official reports didn’t classify it as a tornado, the straight line winds of 80-100 mph hit the town hard and did extensive damage to the community. Countless trees were lost, and numerous homes and other buildings were damaged. The Vander Stelt home lost a large tree in their front yard, their old van was damaged by a tree, and they fought water in their basement. Cleanup efforts were in full force in the days following the storm and the town has recovered very well.
Here, There and Everywhere
Oklahoma Joe’s topped the list and the burnt ends at Arthur Bryant’s were mighty tasty too. A game at Kauffman Stadium, Worlds of Fun Amusement Park, the Truman Library and shopping were all packed into the weekend as well. The family also made the trek to Wisconsin Dells again and the wonderful Kalahari Resort for the Pizza Ranch summer meeting. Denise and her sister Deb flew out to California to help Glenn and Marilyn DeMaster celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary Labor Day weekend. They had great fun relaxing in the sun, visiting and enjoying time as sisters and family.