Charles "Chuck" Jay VandenBerg Jr., age 86, entered the presence of his Lord and Savior on March 19, 2025. He was born, at home, in Grand Rapids, Michigan to Charles Jay VandenBerg Sr. and Jenny (Veenstra) VandenBerg on May 25, 1938. Chuck was preceded in death by his parents, his three brothers Curtis L VandenBerg, Jack K VandenBerg and Arthur H VandenBerg and his niece Cathie VandenBerg. Chuck is survived by his wife of 67 years Madonna (Grover) VandenBerg of Grand Rapids; his two children Charles "Skip" (Mary) Jay VandenBerg III and Julie L VandenBerg; his grandchildren Charles "Charlie" (Rachel) Jay VandenBerg IV, Peter (Ashley) VandenBerg, Michelle (Jordan) Koster, Isaiah (Crystal) VandenBerg and Megan VandenBerg; and his great-grandchildren Charles, Edward, Lillian, Charlotte, Madelyn, William, Jacqueline, Lucas, Taysen and Tanzden. Chuck leaves behind many precious family members and friends.

Chuck's three main passions throughout his life were missions, cars and Donna, his wife. As a young teen he started playing his trumpet at Youth for Christ rallies and eventually founded, with the support of his wife and young family, a Youth for Christ branch in West Palm Beach, Florida. He loved sharing the gospel with the young people, demonstrating God's love to them through action, flying a Piper Cub plane to the Caribbean to supply missionaries there, all the while creating a lasting outreach ministry that still exists today. Chuck was a strong Christian witness to all who crossed his path. Of all of his accomplishments, of which there were many, he would have said that being a part of winning souls to Christ would have been his greatest.

Upon returning to Grand Rapids, Chuck began an impressive career in real estate and later in several personal businesses. Regardless of his place of work, he was a man of strong character, work-ethic, and dedication to his work. This performance in work allowed for many years of giving to numerous ministries to spread the Gospel and good works of God throughout the world. Chuck was an avid musician throughout his life, playing his trumpet in church and Christian ministries throughout Western Michigan and their church in Florida. Most importantly, he was a man dedicated to his wife, family, and service to Christ.

Throughout his life, Chuck had a passion for car maintenance, customization, repair, and driving. He was well known in the community for his dedication to antique and exotic car restoration. From the time he was old enough to turn a wrench, he was tinkering or restoring one car or another. He loved taking something from bushel baskets (his car friends will understand the bushel baskets) to a beautiful well-honed machine. His greatest struggle over the past year was that he could no longer be out in the shop, laying on the cold cement floor, tool in hand, working on one of his "project cars;" it was his happy place.

Chuck often said that, in Donna, he married his best friend, fiercest supporter and cheerleader, and the foundation on which his success was built. Their seventy plus years together were a testament to their love and devotion to each other. Together they continuously listened to God's will for their lives which led them through many hardships and joys. And he would be the first to tell you that he still loved to hold her hand when they walked.

The family will have a time of visitation at Zaagman Memorial Chapel at 2800 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI from 4:00pm – 7:00pm on Friday, April 4, 2025. A Funeral will be held at Zaagman Memorial Chapel on Monday, April 7, 2025, at 11:00am with Rev. Matthew Wright, officiating. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial gift in his name to Mission India, either online by adding "In Memory of Charles VandenBerg" in Comments section before submitting, or by mail to Mission India, P.O. Box 141312, Grand Rapids, MI 49514.