Howard Vandersluis

Vandersluis, Howard John Jr. – 95 of Moline, Illinois, passed away February 21, 2024.

Howard was born on May 7, 1928, in Honolulu Hawaii to Frances Vandersluis and Brigadier General Howard J. Vandersluis Sr. where he spent his early childhood playing on the once quiet beach of Waikiki. At age 8 his family moved to Fort Scott in the San Francisco Presidio, where he watched with a child’s amazement as the Golden Gate Bridge was built. He attended the prestigious Staunton Military Academy, Virginia; the Sullivan School in Washington D.C.; and the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, graduating in 1950. In these years he developed a close relationship with his great uncles and visited them often in Upstate New York, learning to play piano and studying painting and literature.

After West Point, he remained in the US Army for four years, first stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska, and later Fort Benning, Georgia where he completed Ranger Training. Upon leaving the military Howard held several engineering-focused civilian jobs, including nuclear weapons research and, later, explosives research at the United States Army Engineer Research and Development Laboratory (ERDL). He later earned his master’s degree in engineering administration from George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and went on to work at Booz Allen Hamilton, where he travelled through Europe and Asia performing logistics work for the US Army. Howard also worked for the Army’s Advanced Materiel Concepts Agency where he developed a love of new technologies and implementation ideas. He ended his career working for the US Navy’s Naval Sea Systems Command, where he supported a variety of projects. In addition to his career, Howard enjoyed writing children’s stories, reading philosophy, and exploring new areas of spirituality. At the time of his death he was still a proud Toastmaster, enrolled in the Quad Cities Easy Speakers club.

He is survived by his blended family from two marriages to Barbara Allen Armiger Vandersluis (1928-1986, m. 1950) and Sandra Adolphsen Vandersluis (1938-2021, m. 1993). Howard was predeceased by his sons Greg (1954-1960), and Mark (1964-2015, Amie). He is survived by Jan Aiken (Anthony), John Patrick, Robert (Cindy), Howard III (Annice), Julie Skeen (Michael), Jane Williams (Steve), Laurie Wolff, Kevin Adolphson (Debbie), and 22 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers the family has asked to support Howard’s great grandson Eli, a Type 1 diabetic, to raise funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) through the Mid-Atlantic Chapter’s 2024 One Walk in Washington DC at https://www2.jdrf.org/site/TR?fr_id=9466&pg=team&team_id=342272

Family and friends are invited to share memories and express condolences on his Memory Page at mvcremation.com