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He attended St. Helena’s Catholic School and served as an altar boy.
Bob later graduated from Mount Pleasant High School in 1965 and enlisted in
the United States Marine Corps that year. He was a decorated marine having
earned the USMC Air Medal and others for serving as a door gunner on a CH-46
helicopter with the HMM 262 Flying Tigers in Viet Nam. After being honorably
discharged from service, he began a twenty eight year career working at the
DuPont Experimental Station and worked as a technologist in optical
microscopy. On several occasions, his expertise was called upon as testimony
in court cases at home and abroad. Bob loved hiking and backpacking and visited many forests and
mountain ranges throughout the U.S. His spirituality surfaced when he was
among nature’s beauty and solitude and became contemplative. He followed the
Philadelphia Eagles and Flyers over the years and was elated over the Eagle’s
win in the Super Bowl this past February. Bob was also a member of the Del
Vets of World War II and had served on their honor guard at various
functions. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his sister,
Lillian Van Kavelaar, and his brother, Michael L.
Van Kavelaar. He is survived by his loving wife,
Claire, of 42 years, his sons Robert (Christina) Van Kavelaar
and Lorne Van Kavelaar, sisters Carol M. Nordmeyer
and Milli (Ken) Kahn, and brother David (Bette Jo)
Van Kavelaar. He is also survived by extended
family including nineteen nieces and nephews and many grand nieces and
nephews. Friends are invited to pay their respects on Thursday, January 3
beginning at 8 am at the McCrery & Harra
Funeral Home, 3924 Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE where a funeral service will
be held at 9 am. Interment will take place at Delaware Veterans Memorial
Cemetery with military honors. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations be made to Atonement United Methodist Church, 3519 Philadelphia Pike, Wilmington, DE 19703
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