Obituary for William J. "Bill" Vanderstarre
September 16, 1938 - January 29, 2022, born in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, William John Vanderstarre, Sr. (Bill) was a loving family man who had a passion for building. He served as the head of the Detective Bureau of the Rutherford Police Department until he retired in 2001.
Bill was predeceased by his parents, Cornelis and Tilly Vanderstarre; sister Jenneke Frey and her husband Joe; and his brother-in-law and friend, Frank Ebel. He is survived by his wife, Ellen Vanderstarre (nee Ebel); his children Corina Drozdowski and her husband Keith; Charles Vanderstarre; William Vanderstarre, Jr. and wife Andrea Vanderstarre; his grandchildren Amanda Drozdowski, Deanna Vanderstarre, and Charlie Vanderstarre.
Bill is also survived by his brother Gary Van Der Starre and his wife, Linda; his sister-in-law Linda Branick and her husband Joseph; and his ex-sister-in-law Judy Ebel; his nephew and Godson Gerry Van Der Starre; his nephews and nieces: Lance Van Der Starre and his fiancé Elaine Ellard; Joe Frey, Jr.; Jeff Frey; Debra Frey; Michael Frey; Joseph Branick III; Robyn Branick; Corey Branick and Francis Ebel and his wife Catherine; and grand nephews and nieces.
Bill was born two years before the start of bombing of Rotterdam, which entered the Netherlands into World War II. Due to his maternal Jewish heritage, Bill and his parents survived many hardships during the war, hiding their identity to survive. With the promise of the “American Dream” after the war at the age of 17, Bill and his family immigrated to the United States to build a better life. He built a legacy as a Navy veteran, an auto mechanic, a lieutenant in the Rutherford Police Department, a cabinetmaker, a devoted husband, and a
loving father to his family.
Bill served in the Navy on the USS Protector (AGR - 11) as an Engineman, where he worked tirelessly maintaining the mechanical aspects of the ship (such as aligning oil, water and air piping systems, repairing and replacing valves, pumps, steam turbines, hydraulic and pneumatic devices, and other equipment). His experiences in diesel engines led him to own a gas station in Rutherford with his brother Gary where he repaired and maintained cars and trucks.
For 32 years, Bill was a police officer in the Rutherford Police Department. He became a Lieutenant and then the Head of the Detective Bureau for several years before his retirement in 2001. Bill was quietly proud of the accomplishments from his experiences as a police officer and detective. He valued fairness and integrity and prided himself on being dependable.
Woodworking was Bill’s true passion. His hands created many wonderful pieces of furniture. What he was most proud of was making antique reproductions of Colonial American furniture. His Opa was a carpenter, creating ornate wood carvings on ships and he loved that he was able to be the next generation of woodworkers. If you asked Bill what he was most proud of, he would tell you it was what he built.
Yes, Bill created many things with his hands; engines, cabinets, tables, high-boys, and clocks to name a few but his lasting legacy is what he built with his heart; his family.
Most importantly, he built a life that he could be proud of.
Bill’s family will receive friends on Wednesday February 2nd from 4:00 to 8:00 PM in the Calhoun-Mania Funeral Home, 19 Lincoln Avenue Rutherford.
A private cremation will follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations in William's name can be made to the Rutherford Ambulance Corp., P.O. Box 217, Rutherford, NJ 07070.
Bill was predeceased by his parents, Cornelis and Tilly Vanderstarre; sister Jenneke Frey and her husband Joe; and his brother-in-law and friend, Frank Ebel. He is survived by his wife, Ellen Vanderstarre (nee Ebel); his children Corina Drozdowski and her husband Keith; Charles Vanderstarre; William Vanderstarre, Jr. and wife Andrea Vanderstarre; his grandchildren Amanda Drozdowski, Deanna Vanderstarre, and Charlie Vanderstarre.
Bill is also survived by his brother Gary Van Der Starre and his wife, Linda; his sister-in-law Linda Branick and her husband Joseph; and his ex-sister-in-law Judy Ebel; his nephew and Godson Gerry Van Der Starre; his nephews and nieces: Lance Van Der Starre and his fiancé Elaine Ellard; Joe Frey, Jr.; Jeff Frey; Debra Frey; Michael Frey; Joseph Branick III; Robyn Branick; Corey Branick and Francis Ebel and his wife Catherine; and grand nephews and nieces.
Bill was born two years before the start of bombing of Rotterdam, which entered the Netherlands into World War II. Due to his maternal Jewish heritage, Bill and his parents survived many hardships during the war, hiding their identity to survive. With the promise of the “American Dream” after the war at the age of 17, Bill and his family immigrated to the United States to build a better life. He built a legacy as a Navy veteran, an auto mechanic, a lieutenant in the Rutherford Police Department, a cabinetmaker, a devoted husband, and a
loving father to his family.
Bill served in the Navy on the USS Protector (AGR - 11) as an Engineman, where he worked tirelessly maintaining the mechanical aspects of the ship (such as aligning oil, water and air piping systems, repairing and replacing valves, pumps, steam turbines, hydraulic and pneumatic devices, and other equipment). His experiences in diesel engines led him to own a gas station in Rutherford with his brother Gary where he repaired and maintained cars and trucks.
For 32 years, Bill was a police officer in the Rutherford Police Department. He became a Lieutenant and then the Head of the Detective Bureau for several years before his retirement in 2001. Bill was quietly proud of the accomplishments from his experiences as a police officer and detective. He valued fairness and integrity and prided himself on being dependable.
Woodworking was Bill’s true passion. His hands created many wonderful pieces of furniture. What he was most proud of was making antique reproductions of Colonial American furniture. His Opa was a carpenter, creating ornate wood carvings on ships and he loved that he was able to be the next generation of woodworkers. If you asked Bill what he was most proud of, he would tell you it was what he built.
Yes, Bill created many things with his hands; engines, cabinets, tables, high-boys, and clocks to name a few but his lasting legacy is what he built with his heart; his family.
Most importantly, he built a life that he could be proud of.
Bill’s family will receive friends on Wednesday February 2nd from 4:00 to 8:00 PM in the Calhoun-Mania Funeral Home, 19 Lincoln Avenue Rutherford.
A private cremation will follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations in William's name can be made to the Rutherford Ambulance Corp., P.O. Box 217, Rutherford, NJ 07070.