William 'Bill' Joseph Vanderpool, 24
Bill Vanderpool
William “Bill” Joseph Vanderpool passed away on Jan. 10, 2015.
Bill was born on Jan. 18, 1990, in Soldotna, Alaska, to Marylyn Michelle Lunde and William George Vanderpool. In his early childhood years, he lived on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula. He loved living in Alaska, the ocean and the mountains in particular.
Bill was part Athabascan Indian and was fiercely proud of his Alaska native heritage.
In 2001, when Bill was 11, he moved to Sandpoint, Idaho, with his mother and stepfather, Michael Douglas, and his brothers, Peter and James Douglas. Bill loved living in Sandpoint and enjoyed the beauty of the area and all it had to offer an active young man.
Bill excelled and loved to play both football and baseball, which he played through junior and senior high school.
The ink was barely dry on his diploma from Sandpoint High School in 2008 when Bill enlisted in the U.S. Army and joined the 82nd Airborne. Bill served a tour in Afghanistan from 2009 to 2010.
Bill received an Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two campaign stars, the Global War on Terrorism Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal and Parachutist Badge.
Bill returned from the Army in 2011 and reconnected with Melissa Miner, a friend who had gone to school with Bill and kept in contact with him when he was in the Army.
The two fell in love and married in California on April 4, 2012. Melissa is enlisted in the U.S. Navy and stationed in San Diego.
Bill was a wonderful young man who served his country and enriched the lives of everyone who knew him.
He leaves behind the whole community of Sandpoint; his wife, Melissa; his parents, Marylyn Lunde and Michael Douglas; his brothers, Peter and James; his father, William Vanderpool; his sisters, Charlene and Amanda; and his brothers, Keith, Kyle and Cody Vanderpool.
There will be a memorial for Bill at 5 p.m. on Sunday Feb. 15 at the Sandpoint VFW Post No. 2453. There will be a potluck dinner and all who wish are invited to come share memories and bite to eat.