Visitation also one hour prior to services at Tower Park.

Godert W. "Van" Van Der Hart, 99, of Waterloo, died peacefully early Saturday morning, July 8, 2023 when he was called Home to be with his Heavenly Father. Our Hearts are heavy in sorrow but we rejoice knowing he is in his Forever Home. He was under the care of Cedar Valley Hospice at The Deery Suites in Cedar Falls, Iowa when he passed.

He was born October 28, 1923, at the Family's Farm in Rural Mahaska County, Iowa. He was the first- born child of Walter and Helen (Dahm) Van Der Hart. He was the oldest of 11 Children.

Godert attended a one room country school and graduated after the 8th grade as was customary in that day. He then worked on the Family Farm along with his siblings. At the age of 14, Godert accepted the Lord as his Personal Savior. He was convicted by the Holy Spirit while out in the field mending fences. The Best Decision he ever made! He shared that one of his favorite passages was Psalm 23.

As a young Adult, he farmed with some of his siblings. After a few years he decided to attend Emmaus Bible College in Chicago. While in Chicago, he worked at Marshall Fields, as well as a Bank.

After several siblings got married he decided it was time to take a wife! In 1949, he met the Love of his Life while attending a Bible Conference at Western Avenue Gospel Hall in Waterloo, Iowa and her name was Deloris. He married Deloris Ruth Harmon on May 24, 1952 at the Western Avenue Gospel Hall; she preceded him in death on May 20, 2006. They were blessed with three children: Gary, Ramona and Cheryl.

Besides farming, he was a door to door salesman with Fuller Brush, and an Insurance Agent with John Hancock before opening his own agency. At the age of 58, he was employed as a school bus driver through the Waterloo Community School System before retiring at the age of 74. He was known as 'Virgil' by the school kids.

During his working years he enjoyed League Bowling and also had a fondness of cars….especially Studebakers. He was a proud owner of a 1957 Studebaker. In his retirement years he enjoyed attending the Kiwanis Film Travel Series, the Audubon Bird Society and the local Chapter of AARP. He enjoyed family gatherings, Van Der Hart Reunions, working on cars (he loved the challenge of fixing things!) and attending to his tomato plants. Once a Farmer, always a Farmer as Dad loved to reminisce about his days on the Home Place as he fondly called it.

Survived by his son, Gary Van Der Hart; two daughters, Ramona "Mona" (Mike) Schmidt and Cheryl (Gary) Bird all of Waterloo; nine grandchildren, Steven (Jonalee) Van Der Hart of Mulvane, KS, Michael Van Der Hart of Colorado, Holly (Derek) Williams, Stacy Hanson, Ben Hanson, and Angie Stephens all of Waterloo, Tiffany (Blaine) Luck of Hudson, Shane (Olivia) Bird of Texas and Jeremy Bird of Osage; twenty great-grandchildren, Liam and Hattie Van Der Hart, Gina Schilling, Aidan Williams, Aaliyah Stark, Journee Hanson, Brayden, Dexter, and Rosalie Hanson, Brody, Brenden and MaKayla McGrath, Cheyanne (Juan) Herrera, Austin Bird, Makenzie Luck, Cole Luck, Collin Luck, Brexton Bird, Veronica Bird and Lennix Bird; great-great-grandchild, Zy'Air; three brothers, James (Freda) Van Der Hart of Pella, Raymond (Arlene) Van Der Hart of Pella, and Clarence Van Der Hart of Glendale, AR; and a sister-in-law, Ann Van Der Hart.

Preceded in death by his parents; wife, Deloris; and the following sisters and brothers, Thomas Van Der Hart in infancy, Stella (Dwight) Taylor, Jacob (Irene) Van Der Hart, Jeanetta Van Der Hart, John (Reba) Van Der Hart, Henry Van Der Hart, and Nellie Yeo; sister-in-law, Virginia Van Der Hart; son-in-law, Robert Hanson; and grandchild, Lucas Hanson.

The Family would like to Thank the Staff at Deery Suites and the Cedar Valley Hospice for their Compassionate care of Dad. They became our second family.