STAFF REPORTS

A well-known man throughout Eastvale, Norco, and Corona passed away last month.

Louis VanderMolen, passed away peacefully in his home on Thursday, Jan. 9, in the company of his wife, Ada, and his daughter, Ann.  Born in Bergum, the Netherlands, on October 8, 1917, Louis and Ada immigrated to Artesia, California with two small children, John and Johanna, in 1951 and moved to Corona in 1953 where Louis worked in the dairy business, as a cabinet maker and in general construction.

Vandermolen was a large part of the history of Norco and Eastvale. In 1966, he opened his first hardware store on Hamner Avenue in Norco, and later moved that hardware store to the new VanderMolen Center across the street. Vandermolen and his wife Ada, operated VanderMolen Hardware until 1986, when they retired. They enjoyed traveling in their motor home with friends and family.

According to his obituary from Thomas Miller Mortuary in Corona, Vandermolen had  a strong love and dedication to community efforts. He was active in the Norco Chamber of Commerce, where he served as president, was instrumental in raising funds for the building of the current YMCA site in Corona, and also was a life-member of the Norco Kiwanis Club, where he also served as president. He donated time to being a Deacon and Trustee of the First Congregational Church of Corona and was recognized by the Inland Empire Boy Scouts of America as the 1983 Distinguished Citizen. For more than 17 years, Louis was a member of the Governing Board for the Corona-Norco Unified School District; Corona’s Centennial High School’s vocational building is named in Louis’ honor. He was extremely proud and honored to have the Louis VanderMolen Fundamental Elementary School, located in Eastvale, named after him.

Louis is survived by his wife Ada; by four of his five children, John (Leslie), Johanna (Robert), Louis Jr., Ann, and by his grandchildren Eric, Kristin, Amber, Gary, Christopher, Kaitlin, Matthew, and Nicholas.  A memorial service was held on Wednesday, Jan. 15, at the First Congregational Church, 809 S. Ramona Ave., Corona.