Paulsen King Vandevert, Paul, died at home of a heart attack on March 14, 2023. By all indications, he did not suffer.
Born in San Francisco August 10, 1958, he was truly the apple of his parents’ eyes – Alan Paulsen Vandevert and Elodie, nee King. His brother John followed in 1960. Alan’s work as a lawyer took them to Tacoma, WA in the early 1960’s and Paul’s sister Margaret was born there in 1964. The family home was on Tacoma’s C Street for many years.
Paul’s mother was an active manager of her children and while she whole heartedly believed in public school education, when Paul was ‘required’ to read Shakespeare via a video he was pulled from the local school and enrolled in Charles Wright Academy. His experience there can only be imaged, but he was sorely missed when after junior year, he left, on his own accord to attend Bryanston School in Dorset, UK. Alas, we are not privy to the details of all that happened there, knowing only that it was life transforming and enriching. Paul thought he would remain in England, but Alan did not agree, so Paul applied to Columbia College as an ‘in his father’s face kind of move’ because it wasn’t Stanford yet knew Alan would pay for the choice. (Fathers and Sons – title already taken.) What Alan could never imagine nor ever understand were the friendships, the deep and long lasting friends Paul gained while attending Columbia and the love and loyalty he gave and received.
With life in the dorms and at the theatre at Barnard College’s Minor Latham Playhouse, Paul met friends who would stand the test of time. He could walk in a room with them in 2020 with conversations as fresh as hanging out on 116th and Broadway in the 1980’s and that is not because he majored in Comparative Literature!
After Columbia he worked as a paralegal in New York at Davis Polk & Wardwell, travelled around for cases, including a long stint in DC living in the Watergate (because clients paid for that back then) and applied to grad school. Rejected by the Yale School of Drama, he struck back by applying to law school and attended Case Western Reserve, getting by with gentleman C’s – an era that no longer exists. There too his law school friendships were deep and long lasting. Paul was like that. His friend Richard Wortman introduced him to Customs Law – and the rest is history.
Paul had his profession. In 1994 he was hired by General Motors and moved to Michigan. He was at headquarters, but he had to understand the business. Boy, did he love a factory tour! The writer of this missive cannot remember what GM made in its Saginaw factory – but Paul went. Always a good day.
The following came in from a colleague:
“I liked talking with Paul. He was knowledgeable in many, many areas. We met while he worked at Ford and I was working in big law, with the firm that assisted them in Mexico. Then we opened boutique firms and worked on several projects together. He was fast to share his experience. Did not hold anything back and he also shared the cultural experiences when he traveled the world with Ford. This was his best I think. Because he observed many things ordinary people don’t see. And he could share his insights with politeness or in your face with straight raw language. But even in these cases you knew he felt he was not saying things directly to hurt or insult anyone. India, Norway, Mexico, Philippines, Canada, all ports in the US, he’d been there. But my favorite one was the one from India. I am laughing right now. Knowledge with a sense of humor I suppose is the best way to describe my friend.”
Ok, ok I have not provided the details of his career path – General Motors, Delphi, Ford. All the big auto companies in Michigan and after retirement his own solo practice, Vandevert Trade Law PLC.
He was not bigger than life – he was life and you can’t remember everything! A college friend recalls her strategy for a successful party when so many people might not know one another – invite Paul. He could (and would) hold forth as if he had known them his whole life!
Whatever his profession, Paul’s passion remained with theater. He wanted to write and he did, but he loved to direct. To have a vision for a play, to bring it alive. He could be difficult to work with, but it was not about him – it was always about the words and how he read them. Making ideas come alive. Richard Moore sent out this synopsis to the local theater crowd.
“Paul served the Players Guild of Dearborn for many years as Lights and Sound Governor, as Past President from 2002 – 2004, as Finance Committee Chair and on the Building Committee. He also provided legal counsel to the organization over the years. Like many of us he gave his heart to the Guild and in the end, it was his heart that failed him as he succumbed to a heart attack while working at home on Tuesday March 14, 2023.”
Paul is survived by:
-His wife, Caroline (Carrie) Serfass. In August 1990 they met at a writing conference In Montana. Paul did not believe her when she said she lived on the Upper West Side in Manhattan, while giddily driving at some not slow speed on a mountain road. He thought the 60’s somewhere. 103rd and Riverside was the answer and he was in heaven.
-His son, John David Vandevert. Paul was so proud of John, knowing he would be pursuing a PhD in Musicology at Uppsala University, Sweden.
-His sister Margaret King, a teacher, Hackensack NJ.
-His brother John’s three children: Sarah in San Francisco, and Maxwell and David who live in Long Beach California. All have the last name Vandevert.
-And his 2 wonderful companion dogs – Charlie and Sherman P. Keeshonds.
Paul was a traditionalist who changed with the times. To the end, he remained an expert on the 3rd Amendment of the US Constitution, one of more relevant Amendments in today’s world.
In lieu of flowers, see a show, donate to the theater of your choice or donate to Episcopal Relief.
A good friend will come and bail you out of jail…but a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, “Damn…that was fun!”
A memorial gathering will take place on Friday, March 24, 2-8pm at the Dearborn location of Howe-Peterson Funeral Home. A memorial service will take place on Saturday, May 27, 11am at Christ Episcopal Church (120 N. Military St. Dearborn, MI). A reception will follow at Paul and Carrie’s home. Paul’s remains will be inurned at the church memorial garden.
Karl J. Riedl 2022
Karl J. Riedl, 73, of Davidson, NC died unexpectedly on March 19, 2022 from cardiac arrest. His loss is deeply felt by family and friends.
Karl was born on May 10th, 1948 to Annelora Kaiser and Karl B. Riedl in Kings County, New York. Karl attended Manhattan College where he obtained a B.S. in Marketing. He later obtained a M.B.A. from Baruch College, NYC, in Business.
Karl’s first career was with the U.S. Customs Service. He attained the position of National Import Specialist and retired after 25 years of service. His second career was with Robert Bosch Corporation as Director of International Trade. He was a member/board member of several professional organizations: American Association of Exporters and Importers (Chairman); International Compliance Professional Association (Chairman, President); National Association of Foreign Trade Zones. He has been retired since 2010.
Karl loved animals and spent time as a volunteer for Paws Chicago. He was HOA President in both Chicago and North Carolina, as well as President of his men’s club the Southenders.
Anyone who knew Karl, knew that he was kind and caring. He had an immense passion for life and helping others. He was always a source of positivity. He is survived by his wife, Eileen, son Erik, daughter, Koren and stepsons, Josh and David. Karl’s family and friends will miss him more than words can say.
It is with deep sorrow and much love that we mourn the passing of Linda Lou Veronica Campanian Mydland. After a brave fight with leukemia Linda slipped away quietly surrounded by her loving family on May 2, 2021.
Linda was born in Great Falls on August 24, 1962 to Leo and Elinor Campanian. She was the youngest of four children. Linda grew up in the close community of Sweetgrass sharing the trials and joys of life with her brothers, sister, nieces, and other family as well as many friends and neighbors. She attended grade school in Sweetgrass and graduated from North Toole County High School in Sunburst. Linda’s love for the people of this community stayed with her throughout her life and she willingly shared her time with them.
Following High School, Linda attended Kinsman Business University where she received a degree in Fashion Merchandising. Fashion remained an important part of her life. She always presented herself with class and loved shopping for a bargain.
She also attended Carroll College for Business Administration.
Linda began her career in international trade and logistics in 1989, in 1994 she obtained her individual Customs Broker License and later also became a Certified Customs Specialist. She joined A.N. Deringer as an employee in 1994 where she proudly served until her passing. She was an integral part of their leadership team serving as their Western District Manager. Throughout Deringer she was known for her integrity, her strong sense of customer service, and her unfailing dedication. Linda spoke highly of the people at Deringer. She genuinely cared and valued the friendships she made within the company and among her clients. She will be greatly missed.
Linda was so proud to be Mrs. Mydland. She married the love of her life, David Mydland, on July 21, 2001. They were married at the family cottage in Waterton, AB. A place that was dear to Linda’s heart throughout her life. She loved spending time there with her beloved Uncle Rome Meisser and special cousin, Judy Wright.
As both Linda and Dave’s careers required travel and time away, they cherished their time together at home in Shelby. They also cherished the summers and holidays when Dave’s boys, Darin and Dillon, were with them. Linda loved them, worried over them, and was always so proud of their accomplishments. They became her boys.
Linda was a caregiver: caring for her much-loved mother-in-law, Janiece Mydland, and her brother, Howard Campanian, at the end of their lives.
She loved to give gifts. Especially the elegant and sparkling jewelry that her sister, Carmella, created and Linda marketed. She was so proud of Carmella and enjoyed sharing these creations. I’m sure that everyone who knew Linda has been a recipient of a gift.
Linda also loved to play cards and she often formed close friendships with elderly people sharing time with them playing cards, visiting, and bringing a gift.
Linda’s family, especially her siblings, where always front and center in her life. She was in contact with them almost every day and strongly took to heart each of their joys and sorrows. Over the years she became very close to her brother-in-law, Lew Grill, and in recent years she happily welcomed and has loved Danny’s girlfriend, Rachel Kleinert.
Through the long months of cancer treatment Linda formed many new friendships with her doctors and the nurses. She often expressed her high regard for them and mentioned how caring and loving they were to her. She remembered their names and always referred to them by name.
Linda was preceded in death by her parents, Leo and Elinor Campanian; her brothers, Leo John, Frank, Howard, and Bob Campanian; and her sisters, Lucia Nelson and Margaret (Pug) Michaels.
She is survived by her husband, Dave; stepsons, Darin (Tonya) and Dillon (Alyssa) Mydland; sister, Carmella Campanian-Grill (Lewis Grill); brother, Danny Campanian (Rachel Kleinert); nieces, Francis Campanian, Sandy Campanian, Shirley Nelson, Donna Ray Winchell and Jasmine Anderson; nephews, Jim Michaels, Colter Campanian, Nathan Grill, and Adam Grill; as well as a loving extended family and countless friends.
During Linda’s illness she realized the importance of blood and platelet donations. In lieu of flowers or gifts please consider giving the gift of life in her honor. Donations can also be made to Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Information following.
Linda will be deeply missed. May she rest in the loving and caring hands of angels.
Memorial mass will be Wednesday, May 12, 2021, at 10:00am at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Sunburst.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Linda Lou (Campanian) Mydland, please visit our floral store.
Sam Weber 2019
Pompton Lakes – Samuel B. Weber of Pompton Lakes, NJ, passed away on Friday, September 6, 2019. Devoted husband of Abbe (nee: Nadler). Loving father to Nathan (Laurel) and Marley. Cherished grandfather to Liam. Dear brother to Donna (Irwin). Sam worked as the Senior Sales Director for North America at Amber Road Inc., in East Rutherford, NJ. He was recognized as salesman of the year numerous times, and was deeply respected and adored by his co-workers. Funeral services will be 11am Tuesday, September 10, 2019, at the Louis Suburban Chapel, 13-01 Broadway (Route 4 West), Fair Lawn, NJ. Burial to follow at Beth El Cemetery, 735 Forest Ave., Paramus, NJ. Donations in memory of Samuel B. Weber may be made to a local animal rescue.
Joel Junker 2019
Joel Rudi Junker, 69, of Seattle, Washington, and Solana Beach, California, passed away on August 31, 2019. Joel was born in Eldora, Iowa, to Gordon and Anita Junker on January 22, 1950. He attended Valparaiso University, Indiana, where he was the Student Senate President, and graduated with a Political Science degree in 1972. Joel studied internationally at Cambridge University, England (1970) and in Reutlingen, Germany (1972). He received his Doctor of Jurisprudence from California Western School of Law, San Diego, California, in 1977, where he was Editor in Chief of the Cal Western International Law Journal. Joel returned to the University of Cambridge, Trinity Hall, where he received his LL.B (Honors) in 1978. Joel discovered his love of rowing at Trinity Hall and rowed competitively for much of his life.
Joel was a customs and trade attorney and the founder of a specialty international trade law firm, Joel R. Junker & Associates, in 1991. He was a member of the California and Washington State Bar Associations, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and the U.S. Court of International Trade. In 2001, Joel was considered for the position of Commissioner of Customs under former President George Bush. In 2014, he formed a partnership with Matt Nakachi (Junker & Nakachi) with whom he continued his law practice.
Joel married his college sweetheart, Laura Dangel, in 1973. After being widowed, he remained a bachelor until meeting Jeanette Taylor, his life partner, in 2009. He was a devoted brother, uncle, and friend. Joel had many interests outside of law. He was an avid golfer, enjoyed reading for pleasure, playing and listening to all kinds of music, traveling; especially to visit family and friends in the States and Europe, and spending time at his beach home. He was also the author of two published works of fiction, That Boy from Nazareth and The Atwelle Confession, penned under Joel Gordonson. He had also completed a third unpublished novel and was working on a fourth. Joel’s greatest joy was spending time with family and friends.
Joel is preceded in death by his wife, Laura (Dangel) Junker; father and mother, Gordon and Anita (Rudi) Junker; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Victor and Marjorie Dangel (Young); sister and brother-in-law, Marilyn (Junker) and Eric Pyle; sister-in-law, Linda (Dangel) Black; and grand-niece, Amy Hild.
Joel is survived by his life partner, Jeanette Taylor; sisters, Donna Brosdahl (Dennis) and Karen McCoy (John); brothers-in-law, Daniel Dangel (Cathy) and Dayton Dangel (Maria); four nephews; seven nieces; five grand-nephews; and seven grand-nieces.
He will be missed by those who knew and loved him.
Memorial services will be held on Saturday, September 14th at 11:00 a.m. at Community Lutheran Church, Escondido, CA.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the American Cancer Society, www.donate3.cancer.org, as cancer touched many of the lives of those Joel loved.
Donnie Barnes 2015
MOORE, SC– Donnie Bailey Turbeville Barnes, 68, of Moore, SC, died Saturday, July 4, 2015 at Rosecrest. Born June 30, 1947, in Gaston County, NC, reared in Lincolnton, NC, she was the daughter of Donie Shults Denton of Lincolnton, NC and the late Morrison (Bill) L. Bailey. Donnie was a 1965 graduate of Lincolnton High School and held several degrees from USC-Columbia. She retired from BMW as a manager of Customs Compliance. She was also a member of Joy Lutheran Church.
Survivors in addition to her mother are her husband, Edward N. Barnes; step-father, Carroll Denton of Lincolnton, NC;, daughter, Kelly McDill (Howard) of Asheville, NC; son, Michael Kiser of Wilmington, NC; step-daughters, Stephanie Marshall of Illinois and Monica Gray (Dr. Ronald) of Spartanburg, SC; brothers, Michael Bailey (Judy) of Taylorville, NC and Stephen Bailey (Jeannie) of Vale, NC; 14 grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be 2:30 – 3:30 PM Tuesday, July 7, 2015 at Joy Lutheran Church, 3980 Moore-Duncan Hwy., Moore, SC 29369. Funeral services will follow at 4:00 PM, at the Church, conducted by the Rev. Lane Bembenek. Burial will be in Westwood Memorial Gardens, 6101 Reidville Road, Moore, SC 29369 immediately following.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Joy Lutheran Church Building Fund, 3980 Moore-Duncan Hwy., Moore, SC 29369.
An online guest register is available at www.floydmortuary.com
Floyd’s North Church St. Chapel
