VANDER PLOEG, ENGBERT "BERT" Engbert "Bert" Vander Ploeg of Manresa Drive, Fredericton, husband of Elaine (Croeze) Vander Ploeg, went home to be with his Lord at the age of 79 on Wednesday, December 4, 2002 at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital. Born in Holland, he was the son of the late Pieter and Wietske (Braam) Vander Ploeg. Mr. Vander Ploeg was a retired farmer, and was affiliated with Devon Park Baptist Church. In addition to his wife of 51 years, Bert is survived by a son, Peter Vander Ploeg (Judy) of Cape Coral, Florida; daughters Marnie Vander Ploeg of Calgary, Alberta, Ideke Vander Ploeg of Fredericton, Wendy Lavigne (Dan) of Nasonworth, and Jenny Vander Ploeg of Fredericton; a brother, Paul Vander Ploeg (Mary) of Mt. Brydges, ON; sisters Boukje Noordman and Sietske Vander Ploeg, both of Holland; grandchildren Daniel (Brenda), Benjamin, Rebecca, and Rachel Vander Ploeg, Gregory and Michelle Ricker, and Kelsey and Nathan Lavigne; a great grandson, Evan Vander Ploeg; and several nieces and nephews. Bert was predeceased by brothers Peter, Ralph, Bill, and Fred; and by sisters Ideke Vander Ploeg and Margaret Vriesinga. Visitation will take place at York Funeral Home, 302 Brookside Drive, Fredericton North, on Friday from 2-4 and 7-9 PM. The funeral service will be held on Saturday at 2:00 PM from Devon Park Baptist Church, Clark Street. Rev. Lawrence Meade will officiate, assisted by Rev. Norman Trafton and Rev. Robert Boertje. The pallbearers will be Bert's grandson, Nathan Lavigne; Willard Crawford, a special friend who helped to liberate Holland in World War II; and neighbours Len Baglole, Allen Corey, Peter Grant, and Jim Walker. Interment will take place at a later date in the Fredericton Rural Cemetery. For those who wish, remembrances to the Palliative Care Unit of the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital would be appreciated by the family in lieu of flowers.