Norman Van Dam – Colonel, United States Marine Corps

OGDEN, Utah – Gerry Van Dam, (Geraldine Stokes Van Dam), 89, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and aunt has died at her home of causes incident to age on February 23, 2006. Geraldine Stokes Van Dam was born on April 25, 1916, at Draper, Utah, to Mary Lupton Heward and Archibald LeGrande Stokes. She was the third of nine sisters and brothers.

While working in Pasadena, California, she met her husband-to-be, Norm Van Dam (from Murray, Utah) a young Marine officer, assigned to the battleship Colorado. They married on September 17, 1937, at Quantico, Virginia, later being sealed for time and all eternity at the Manti LDS Temple in 1962. Gerry is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and has served in various callings from visiting teacher to R.S. President, concluding with serving with her husband as a temple worker at the Los Angeles and San Diego temples.

Gerry also was very active in PTA, Girl Scouts, Marine auxiliary, The Poway Art Guild, Red Cross, and participated in 10 years of research for UCSD's Alzheimer's Research Center. In September of 1999, Gerry moved from Oceanside, Calif., to Ogden's Harrison Regent Retirement Residence.

Her husband, their son David, her parents, a sister, three brothers, and five great-grandchildren preceded her in death.

She leaves behind four children; Norman Alan (Karel Ann), currently serving an LDS mission at BYUH; Gloria (Robert L. Hamson), currently serving an LDS mission at Cebu, Philippines; Lou (Clinton J. Baxter), South Ogden; and Geri (Lynn F. Slaght), Callahan, California, 22 grandchildren; and 79 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sisters, Maureen (Clifton Cook, deceased) and Annie (James Fields), of Salt Lake, a sister, Ruth Wetterstrom (Earl, deceased), Oregon, and a sister Ellen (Robert Sheppard), of South Ogden. Gerry also has numerous brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews, and many friends around the world.

Funeral will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 28, 2006, at the South Ogden 9th Ward, 4955 Adams Ave. A viewing will be held the same day one hour prior to the services.

Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery.


Norman Van Dam, born on 12 August 1912 at Salt Lake City, Utah.  He died on 25 August 1994 near San Diego, California.

David Paul Van Dam was born on 15 February 1949 at Honolulu, Hawaii, and died in Virginia on 15 October 1951.


VAN DAM, DAVID PAUL S/O NORMAN

  • DATE OF BIRTH: 02/15/1949
  • DATE OF DEATH: 10/15/1951
  • BURIED AT: SECTION 7  SITE 8152-2 L
  • ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
    SON OF NORMAN VAN DAM, COL USMC

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