Obituary of Edwin A. Vonderheide

South Woodstock, Connecticut

Edwin A. Vonderheide died on April 4, 2020, after a brief stay at Day Kimball Hospital Hospice Suite.  He is survived by his 4 children, Mark, Peter, Susan and Stephen Vonderheide, his 12 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.  Reverend Vonderheide was a minister for 35 years in the United Methodist Church after earning his Master’s degree in theology from Boston University.  He also earned a B.S. degree from Syracuse University in Forestry and was a life-long lover of the outdoors and planter of trees.  He and his late wife, Barbara Vonderheide, who passed away on August 11, 2016, were loving parents, grandparents and great grand-parents.  He volunteered on the Zoning Board in Woodstock, the Food Bank, the American Legion, Post 111 as a former Marine, numerous choirs, and volunteer fire departments.  

Reverend Vonderheide was loved and respected by parishioners and family alike.  Over the course of his ministry, he served in churches located in Bradford, Vermont, Cobleskill, New York, Jonesville, New York, Springfield, Vermont, Ellenburg, New York, Whitehall, New York, Rockland, Maine, and Patten, Maine.  He was ahead of his time with his views on social justice as well as serving the world-wide needs of the impoverished populations in other countries.  His outreach within each community he served was unmatched, and his compassion for others continued throughout his life.       

A private service was held at the Smith & Walker Funeral Home, Putnam, CT on Monday, April 6, 2020 at 1 p.m. followed by burial and graveside service at Grove Street Cemetery, Putnam, CT.  A Memorial Service is tentatively planned for Saturday, August 22, 2020 at 11 a.m. at the Living Faith United Methodist Church.