Judge GARY LEE VANDERHOOF

Judge Gary Lee Vanderhoof passed away on December 6, 2021, in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the age of 86. 

He was born in Sheboygan, WI, on September 18, 1935, to Harold Vanderhoof, and Evelyn (Guhl) Vanderhoof. 

In his early years, his family moved to Plymouth, WI. Upon his graduation from Plymouth High School at the age of 17, he joined the Marine Corp. He trained at Camp Pendleton in California, and served in the Korean War. Upon returning home, Gary attended the University of Wisconsin – Madison for two years, where he met his first wife Donna (Harris) Vanderhoof. They were married on November 22^nd, 1961, in Los Angeles California, and were married for the next 25 years. 

Gary joined the Los Angeles Police Force that same year, where he would work as a patrol officer for the next 6 years during the turbulent time of the Watts riots, and the Vietnam War.  

While working for the LAPD, he attended San Fernando Valley State College part-time in Los Angeles, where he received his bachelor’s degree in American History and Political Science. He left the LAPD after he was accepted into the School of Law in Iowa City, Iowa. 

He moved with wife Donna and family to Iowa City, Iowa where he attended Law School for 3 years, while also working full-time as a Johnson County Sheriff’s Deputy. He passed the Wisconsin State Bar Exam in 1971 upon graduating from Law School. He maintained his membership with the Wisconsin Bar for the next 50 years. 

Soon after, Gary and his family moved for a brief time to Port Washington, when he worked for the IRS in Milwaukee for a year before moving his family to Lake-in-the-Hills, IL when he accepted the position of prosecuting attorney, in the Department of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms in Chicago. 

He remained in that position for the next 20 years. During his career with the Dept of ATF in Chicago, he joined the Army Reserve JAG Corp as an attorney. He retired from the JAG Corp as a Lt. Colonel. 

Gary, Donna and family enjoyed travelling with relatives to many different places throughout the United States, where they enjoyed camping, fishing, boating and water-skiing during summer breaks.  

In 1991 Gary moved to Albuquerque, NM, where he accepted the position of Administrative Law Judge with the Social Security Administration, a position he held throughout the rest of his career. 

It was there that he met Nancy Bradshaw, whom he would marry in 2009. They enjoyed International as well as domestic travel and going on cruises together. They lived in San Antonio, TX for several years until 2016, when they moved to Las Vegas, NV for Gary’s job transfer. He continued working as a Federal Judge until retiring at the age of 84.

Gary loved sports. While attending Plymouth High School, he was a member of the football team, the basketball team, the baseball team, and the track team. He was also an outdoorsman. He had fond memories of fishing with his father as a young boy. He was proud of the small business they established together, which they named Van’s Minnows. During this time, his father was employed as a Wisconsin State cheese inspector. 

Gary was also interested in chess, bowling and golf. Growing up, he would play chess with his grandfather for hours at a time. After moving to Lake-in-the-Hills, he joined a bowling league, and took up golfing, which he very much enjoyed in his free time. He was an avid snow skier for many years as well, after joining a ski club based in the Chicago suburbs. He enjoyed vacationing in various cities around the world, where he would ski some of the most challenging mountainous terrains in Europe. He especially loved to visit, and ski in Austria, Switzerland and Italy. He received many medals and awards in skiing throughout the years and was proud to be on the ski patrol in the ski club, which he was a member of for over 30 years.

Gary is survived by his wife Nancy (Bradshaw) Vanderhoof, daughters, Kristen (Gil) Gutierrez, Lisa Vanderhoof, Wendy Vanderhoof and son Troy (Pam) Vanderhoof. He is also survived by several grandchildren, Jenna (Justin) Salvadalena, Gianni Gutierrez, Austin (Anise) Vanderhoof, Ryan (Renee´) Vanderhoof, Ashley Vanderhoof, great grandchildren Reese and Oliver, sister Lynn (Vanderhoof) Miles, brother Peter Vanderhoof, nieces Marianne (Tom) Keenan, Brittany Vanderhoof, Amber Vanderhoof, and Kimberly Vanderhoof, and nephews, Rick Miles and Randy (Kristen) Miles. 

Gary will be missed by many, including his family, friends and co-workers. A Celebration of Life will be held in June, in Plymouth, WI.

Kathleen M. “Kathy” Balnaitis 74, of Sheboygan died March 6. Reinbold Novak Funeral Home.

Carl Blok 87, of Oostburg died March 5. Wenig Funeral Home.

Beverly Jean Patricia Borgardt 94, of Sheboygan died February 28. Ballhorn Funeral Home.

Edith J. Brulla 95, of Howards Grove died March 2. Reinbold Novak Funeral Home.

Jeanne M. Bubb 80, of Sheboygan died February 28. Reinbold Novak Funeral Home.

Donald “Pat” Christel 92, of Sheboygan died January 8. Reinbold Novak Funeral Home.

Julia Anne Erbstoeszer Ehlert 91, of Sheboygan died March 5. Ballhorn Funeral Home.

Jennifer M. Griggel 33, of Sheboygan died February 25. Barbola Funeral Home.

Leroy V. “Fuzzy the Baker” Jackett 81, died February 23. Ballhorn Funeral Home.

Donna Lee M. Johnson 85, of Sheboyan died March 4. Reinbold Novak Funeral Home.

Gerald B. Lehman Sr. 56, of Sheboygan died February 28. Ballhorn Funeral Home.

Juanita “Joyce” McLachlan 81, of Sheboygan died February 27. Reinbold Novak Funeral Home.

Robert “Bob” W. Meulbroek 68, of Sheboygan died March 6. Reinbold Novak Funeral Home.

Betty Jo Mikalowsky 77, of Sheboygan died March 1. Reinbold Novak Funeral Home.

Catherine Jo Retzack 68, of Sheboygan died February 12. Reinbold Novak Funeral Home.

Janice Mae Ruge 85, of Sheboygan died March 4. Olson Funeral Home.

Georgia G. Ryan 89, of Sheboygan died March 4. Ballhorn Funeral Home.

Judith J. “Judy” Schlehlein 91, of Sheboygan died March 1. Reinbold Novak Funeral Home.

Anna E. Waage 16, of Elkhart Lake died March 3. Suchon Funeral Home.

Nelda Westerbeke 93, of Oostburg died March 1. Wenig Funeral Home.

Jerome “Jerry” Wiarek 88, of Sheboygan died March 4. Reinbold Novak Funeral Home.

Janet M. Wolfert 83, of Plymouth died March 4. Reinbold Novak Funeral Home.

Gary Resimius 85, of Plymouth died March 3. Suchon Funeral Home.

Bonnie K. Adamavich 82, of Sheboygan died March 12. Zimmer Westview Funeral Home.

Doris F. Beck 77, of Plymouth died March 15. Suchon Funeral Home.

Anne Marie Clarke 57, of Sheboygan died March 6. Ballhorn Funeral Home.

Mark A. DeZwarte 69, of Sheboygan died January 17. Reinbold Novak Funeral Home.

Dr. Roy C. Grzesiak 79, of Plymouth died March 9. Ballhorn Funeral Home.

Jean Rachel Marie Helton 68, of Plymouth died March 9. Suchon Funeral Home.

Kerri Beth Hobart 60, of Sheboygan died March 7. Olson Funeral Home.

Leota Joy Jones 81, of Howards Grove died March 7. Ballhorn Funeral Home.

James “Jim” E. Jost 73, of Sheboygan died March 11. Zimmer Westview Funeral Home.

Agnes B. “Tootsie” Meyer 93, of Sheboygan died March 14. Reinbold Novak Funeral Home.

Joyce D. Oleson 82, of Sheboygan died March 8. Farber Funeral Home.

Kenneth J. Pluskat 80, of Sheboygan died March 5. Ballhorn Funeral Home.

Inara Anita Rozite 79, of Sheboygan died March 10. Ballhorn Chapels.

Thomas Sander 54, of Sheboygan died March 12. Suchon Funeral Home.

Judith J. “Judy” Schlehlein 91, of Sheboygan died March 1. Reinbold Novak Funeral Home.

Edmund J. Schmitt 95, of Plymouth died March 12. Suchon Funeral Home.

Jane Schneider 74, of Sheboygan died March 11. Wenig Funeral Home.

Carol Marie Schuessler 81, of Oostburg died February 25. Meiselwitz Funeral Home.

Barbra Schwind 88, of Plymouth died March 9. Suchon Funeral Home.

Donald H. Van Engen 90, of Sheboygan died March 14. Reinbold Novak Funeral Home.

Janet M. Wolfert 83, of Plymouth died March 4. Reinbold Novak Funeral Home.