Richard E. VanValkenburg

Summit- Richard E. VanValkenburg, 83, of State Route 10 passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 30, 2022, at home with his loving family at his side.

Richard was born March 6, 1939, on the family farm in Summit where he was raised.  He is the son of the late Herbert and Ruth (Vantyne) VanValkenburg.

Growing up on the family farm led Richard to his love of cows, which he continued with his son, Dean, turned the land into a hobby farm where to this day, he still had two cows along with his son’s cows.  He was a member of the Summit Conservation Club and a 65-year member of the Summit Fire Department.  Richard enjoyed taking rides with his wife, Janet, looking for wildlife, as he was an avid hunter for many years.

He retired as a Crane/Shovel Operator from Cobleskill Dept. of Transportation on April 19, 1995, after many years of service.

Richard’s surviving family includes his wife, Janet (Becker) VanValkenburg whom he married June 25, 1959; his two sons: Fred (Barbara) VanValkenburg and Dean (Heather) VanValkenburg all of Summit; grandson, Anthony (Lindsay) VanValkenburg of Summit, 3 granddaughters: Amanda VanValkenburg of Summit, Samantha VanValkenburg of Colorado Springs, CO, and Leah VanValkenburg of Summit, a great-granddaughter, Ainsley VanValkenburg of Summit; his sister, Sylvia Rifenberg of Germantown and many nieces, nephews and friends.

He was predeceased by his brothers:  Walt, Bob, and Leo VanValkenburg and sisters: Helen Haslun and Eddie Dibble.

Family and friends are invited to a period of visitation to be held from 5PM to 7PM on Friday, August 5, 2022, at Mereness-Putnam Funeral Home, 171 Elm St., Cobleskill.  A Fireman’s Service will be held at 6:45PM that evening with cremation following.  A Celebration of Life will be held from 1PM to 5PM on Saturday, August, 27, 2022 at the Summit Conservation Club, Bear Gulch Road, Summit, NY.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to be made to Summit Conservation Club, PO Box 51, Summit, NY 12175.