Martin van Gelder

van Gelder, Martin Martin van Gelder, age 70 of Gainesville, FL passed away on Sunday, October 26th 2014 in Gainesville. Martin was born May 12, 1944 in Chicago, IL to Mozes and Janet (Harris) van Gelder. Serving his country in the US Army as an Airborne Ranger, 24th Infantry, Germany Headquarters, OCS Selection Team, in Ft Dix, NJ, in the Vietnam War, 1st Cavalry Division, Hotel Co., 75th Ranger (Long Range Recon Patrol), having received the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and Combat Infantry Badge, then returning stateside to Ft. Sill OK as part of the Training NCO-Jungle Warfare training Battalion. Mr. van Gelder was the owner of M van Gelder & Associates, and Empire Realty Corp both in Orlando. He was an Audit Agent with the Florida Department of Revenue, Medical Administrator at the VA Medical Center in Gainesville, the North Florida Area Manager with Burnip & Sims Telcom Inc., and was a volunteer, Construction Coordinator, Secretary and Board member with Habitat for Humanity in Gainesville. Martin was a member of Congregation B'Nai Israel, American Legion Post 0016, Paralyzed Veterans of America- Central Florida Chapter, Military Order of the Purple Heart, University of Florida Alumni Association, Titletown Gator Club, LifeSouth Blood Bank- 26+ Galloneer, ACLU, NRA, Southern Poverty Law Center, and the NAACP. He was a Life Member of the Vietnam Veterans of America- Chapter 1059, Disabled American Veterans- Chapter Gator #90, Jewish War Veterans- Post 2014, Veterans of Foreign Wars- Post 2811, and a member at large in the 1st Air Cavalry Association. He is survived by his sons Michael (Angella) van Gelder and Richard (Dale) van Gelder both of Orlando, their mother Liane van Gelder of Orlando, grandchildren Rachael van Gelder of Leesburg, Karl van Gelder and Katherine van Gelder of Orlando, and his great grandchild, Brooke Lillian Hutchins of Leesburg FL. His Gainesville Family Carol Peters, Scott Lansing Peters, Brittany Peters (Nick) Pino, Dylan Cole Pino, Dean Michael Pino, and Natalie Taylor Pino. Special people Rod and Lynn LeBre of Orlando, Irene and Irving Young of Hampton, FL, Shirley Peters of Winter Park, FL, Dr. "Bob" Sammel, the LAMP Team, the Recreational Therapy Team all at the VA Medical Center in Gainesville, and a special thanks to Haven Hospice for all of the love and care given to Martin and his family. Services will be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday, November 4, 2014 at Congregation B'Nai Israel, 3830 NW 16th Blvd., Gainesville, FL 32605. Interment will follow at 2:00 pm in Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, FL. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Haven Hospice 4200 NW 90th Blvd. Gainesville, FL 32606 or the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund 2600 Virginia Ave NW, Suite 104 Washington DC 20037. Arrangements are under the care of MILAM FUNERAL HOME 311 South Main Street Gainesville, FL 32601 (352) 376-5361.