Daniel Allen VanderPloeg II, age 16, of Clancy passed away April 1, 2014. Daniel was born at Madigan Army Hospital in Tacoma, Washington on June 18, 1997 to David and Samantha VanderPloeg.
Daniel was a junior at Helena High School and worked as a dishwasher at Touchmark Retirement Community. In his free time he enjoyed playing sports, especially football and high jump. He had a passion for playing the trombone, hiking, playing video games and Star Wars.
Daniel’s broad smile was warm and welcoming. He spent his life working at making everyone happy. If a friend was blue, or needed a shoulder, Daniel was there. He would do anything to make you happy.
His happy-go-lucky attitude, always smiling face and friendly demeanor will be dearly missed.
Daniel is survived by his parents, David and Samantha VanderPloeg; his brothers, John VanderPloeg and Steven (Alyssa) Rasmussen; and niece Catey Rasmussen. Daniel is survived by a large amazing group of loving family and friends all around the world. In his short time on the earth he touched so many people.
A memorial service celebrating Daniel’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 5th at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, 3750 N. Montana Ave. A funeral reception will follow Daniel’s memorial service in the social hall of the funeral home. Please visit below to offer a condolence to the family or to share a memory of Daniel.
Service Schedule
Celebration of His Life
11:00 a.m.
Saturday April 5, 2014
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave
Helena, Montana 59602
Reception
Following the Celebration of Daniel's LIfe
Saturday April 5, 2014
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave
Helena, Montana 59602
Service Schedule
Celebration of His Life
11:00 a.m.
Saturday April 5, 2014
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave
Helena, Montana 59602
Reception
Following the Celebration of Daniel's LIfe
Saturday April 5, 2014
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave
Helena, Montana 59602
Share
Jordan Marks says
R.I.P Daniel you will be miss keep looking down on all of us from heaven and keep us safe you will always be in our hearts forever you will never be forgotten
Kim and Tom Cohn says
Dearest David and Samantha- Our hearts ache for you. Our son Christian, who was in Daniel’s class, also passed away in November of 2012. Please know that we think of you every day and are feeling the pain. You are continually in our prayers, in hopes that you are able to cope during this unexplainable and unfair tragedy. Please know that we are here for you and your family…….Tom and Kim Cohn
Rob Meek says
I thank God and will continue to thank Him for blessing us with having had Daniel in our lives. He brought an amazing presence into our home. Our home became alive with energy every time he entered our home. He was one of the most beautiful caring people I have ever met and he will be greatly missed. He had this engaging smile and wit that drew you into wanting to be around him, you couldn’t do anything but love him. We have been truly blessed . Again thank you David, Samantha, and John for sharing your amazing son with us.
Michelle, Mackenzie and Lucus says
As we are all so saddened by the loss of such a wonderful man, please find comfort in knowing that Daniel is not hurting anymore. Although I have not been in your situtation I too have lost a son due to a unexpected tragedy. Take the time that your family needs and remember the memories that you have of Daniel. He will look down on you always and will watch over you. Know that you have a guardian angel on your side. Mackenzie and Lucus both worked with Daniel at Touchmark, they both spoke very highly of Daniel and how much they miss him. If I can offer any advice, Know that the community is hurting with you and there is not one of us out here that would not being willing to help in any way. Please don’t hesitate to ask if you need anything. As above said, Thank you for sharing such a wonderful young man with all of us.
Julie Brantley says
From one Montana parent to another … I wanted to send my heartfelt sympathies in the loss of our son.
Though we know there is a Heaven and one day you will all be together again, it is those who go on without him that suffer. And to you I send my thoughts … This is not the way things were meant to be played out.
I pray God will be very real to you during this very painful time –
The Fadness Family says
Daniel was a part of our lives from the minute we met him. He always had a great big hug and the best smile to share. He was nice to everyone especially to our younger kids that looked up to him. Our hearts are broken. We pray for peace for your family and we are here for you.
All our love,
The Fadness Family
Sevin Griego says
R.I.P Hey Daniel have a good time in your afterlife maybe ill see you there one day.
Crystal says
Thoughts and prayers are with all of Daniel’s family and friends, hoping you will all find peace and forgiveness. There is an entire community grieving with you, even those who did not know Daniel. I hope you are comforted by knowing his legacy is shared and will live on to help others who are suffering as well.
Nancy White, Josh and Caite Schlicht says
Thoughts and Prayers to Daniels family. Our deepest Sympathy to you.
Kathleen Broussard says
We knew Daniel (Van Halen) from baseball. He was a joy to be around. We will truly miss him and his wonderful smile. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.
Keith, Kathleen and Kory Broussard
Rebecca Wolkoff says
I got the wonderful chance to know Daniel for 3 years of my life. He was always a joy to be around. David and Samantha you both raised a very respectful kind young man. Daniel was one of the few people at school that was genuine. High school is rough for anyone but memories I shared with Daniel were always the bright happy moments of my high school career. I am very sorry for your loss. He was an amazing young man. My thoughts and prayers are with your family.
Alicia Johnson says
Sam, Dave and Family,
I am so sorry for the loss of your wonderful Son Daniel. I hope you can find comfort in all the great memories you have and know he is with you in spirit. I will be thinking of you all tomorrow as you celebrate the wonderful man he was.
Hugs Alicia
Christine LaMere says
Dave, Sam & Family,
I am so Very sorry to hear about the loss of your Precious son Daniel. There are No words to ease the pain that you and your family are going through, it’s out of the order as we know it. I lost my son 3 years ago, not a day goes by without me thinking of him, it is a pain that No Parent should have to go through. Please know that my Thoughts & Prayers are with you . May God Bless & Comfort you Always …….
Mike and Tina Payne says
We feel very blessed to have had the opportunity to become friends with Dave and Sams beautiful family. Daniel was the most amazing teenager we had ever met. His full spirit, high energy and beaming smile was always a joy.
I could always count on Daniel stopping by to say hi and to visit for a bit when I was working and while he was waiting for his Mom to get off work. He would follow me from table to table while I folded clothes telling me all about his day and always loved talking about football. Daniel was also a pretty mean horse shoe player…
Words alone cannot express the pain we feel for the VanderPloeg family, We Love you all..
Mike and Tina Payne
John Hawkins says
David, Samantha, Jon and family,
We are saddened to hear of Daniels passing. His infectious smile and bantering with us during baseball will be greatly missed. Having met all of you when you first moved here having Jon on my baseball team.. and Daniel taking the time to help out right away.. he was one kid I really enjoyed being around. My words cannot begin to ease the pain and sorrow you and all of us are feeling over this. Please know that we are here for you all.. Jon especially. He will not be forgotten.
Our deepest sympathies,
John, Renee, Cody & Keeley Hawkins
Grace says
Out of the 5 years I’ve known Daniel, we’ve made so many great memories and I’m so grateful for that. One memory in particular he shared with me a few months ago in math class. He told me that once while he was working at Captain Jack’s, he cut one of his fingers open and he had it wrapped up in such a way that he couldn’t really efficiently do anything in math except just let it sit there. While he was telling me this he was also working on an assignment, so he was obviously a little bit distracted. Afterwards he told me, “So yeah, whenever I shower, my mom has to help me…”, and he just kind of trailed off without finishing, and that statement alone had me concerned a little bit. I didn’t think his wound was so bad it would prohibit him from showering by himself. When he looked up and saw the expression of puzzlement on my face, he realized what he said, started laughing, and finished it by saying that his mom had to help him tie or tape a plastic bag around his arm in order to not get the covering on his hand wet. Some of the people around us wondered why we were laughing and he soon had a large portion of the class laughing together, including the teacher. Over the years, we’ve talked about some deep stuff, but what I’ll always remember is the way that he could always bring me out of some of my darkest moods and make me laugh, and I can never thank him enough.
Praying for you guys,
Grace
Kindra says
Daniel truly would do anything to make someone smile, I know of so many times where I wasn’t very happy and he was able to turn my mood around easily. He was someone I enjoyed talking to and missed talking to after I graduated and moved away. I will and already do miss him so much. It really was a final good bye. My prayers and thoughts go out to your family at this time.
Jim Atwood says
I did not know Daniel but was touched by his obituary in the Tacoma News Tribune. He sounds like he was a wonderful young man who brought happiness into the lives of his family and friends on a daily basis. I can only hope that memories of him will continue to bring joy into your hearts.
Gary & Brenda Medvec says
Dear Vanderploeg Family, I’m so sorry to hear about the loss of your son Daniel. My daughter Kyra knew him at HHS and my other daughter Stacia knew him from Touchmark. They had nothing to say but nice things about him. He will be missed by all who knew him! May God hold you and comfort you during this difficult time.
Destiny says
I may not have known Daniel, but I have many people close to my heart that did get to spend time with someone who seemed like a very impacting person on many lives. I didn’t know him, but watching the ones I cherish and love go through the sorrow of his absence, makes me almost feel as if I did know him. Everyone of his friends spent a great amount of time, enough time to create amazing memories and leaving them all with a huge impact on their hearts the minute Daniel was no longer with us. I wish I could’ve gotten to know him, like everyone else did. From what I have heard from the ones he loved, he had a very huge heart. He was known to be kind and thoughtful, and very strong. And I know that even though he is no longer with us, that he would wish the same upon all of us. So as he would’ve wanted, help those that are still suffering. Help them find peace with Daniel. I am from the Townsend area, and as a young teenager, I haven’t been through much pain as to when it comes to losing someone for good. I may have lost a few boyfriends, and lied and pushed a few of my best friends away, but i can always get them back. The thing with Daniel, he is gone. But not entirely. Daniel lives within our hearts and through our memories. I wish i could’ve known him like everyone else did. I wish I could’ve looked into those eyes of him and considered him a friend. And even though I didn’t get the chance to meet this amazing young man, I know that everyone who did, will remember him and remember his smile. I’m sorry for everyone’s loss, and even if I may not know whats its like to completely lose someone, just remember of how strong he was. I’m sorry for your loss, and even if we are strangers, you all are in my prayers.
cody schnepel says
I new him for many years. see each other around school all the time. I was one of those kids that didn’t have a lot of friends. he was one of the ones that actually made an effort to tlk to me or even say hello when I walked by. I moved and so I wasn’t told of his passing until just 5 min ago. we all will miss him…idk what els to say…
Georgia Kahler says
Daniel was one of my sixth grade students. I have taught school for 25 years and I don’t remember every student but I remember Daniel very well. Daniel was one of those people who had a happy disposition and made others feel good to be around him. Even though I haven’t seen Daniel for several years I know there is a little less light in the world now that he is gone. My heartfelt sympathy goes to his family and I thank you for the time I was allowed to share with him.