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03/02/2015 11:00 PMJohn Henry Vanderhoef Jr., 95, of Madison, died on Feb. 16, 2015. He was born in Bridgeport on June 24, 1919, the son of John and Amelia Vanderhoef.
His youth came to an end when he enlisted in the US Army. A WWII veteran of the European Campaign, he and his unit, the 56th Field Artillery Battalion, landed on Omaha Beach in Normandy, France. Along with other brave members of his battalion, John participated in the Normandy, North France, Rhineland, and Central European Campaigns. By the time he reached the Baltic Coast of Germany, his unit had liberated the Wobbelin Concentration Camp. John was discharged in June 1945, having earned a Bronze Star Medal.
Returning to civilian life, he married Frances Pruski and together they raised three children. John worked for the Genovese Supply Company in Stamford for 31 years. Longtime residents of Norwalk and Stamford, Frances and John retired to Florida, where they enjoyed surf casting, biking, and gardening. After the death of his beloved wife, John volunteered at the Health First Hospice of Melbourne, Florida.
When he was 90, his children insisted that he move back to Connecticut where they could keep a better eye on him. John worked hard and succeeded in forging a new life for himself at the Hearth, an assisted living facility. He walked every day, spent many peaceful hours at the Scranton Library, and participated in family gatherings.
John was predeceased by his son-in-law Charles Filanosky. “Pop-Pop” will be missed and remembered by his daughter Janet Filanosky of Winder, Georgia; sons John (Roberta) Vanderhoef of Stratford, and Edward (Helene) Vanderhoef of Clinton; four grandchildren, Charles Filanosky, Victoria Varnadore, Jodi Och, and David Vanderhoef; and four great-grandchildren.