VELDKAMP, Art
76, of St. Petersburg, passed away on August 9th at Hospice Woodsice in Pinellas Park. He was born on September 7, 1933, in Paterson, NJ, to Dirk and Bertha Veldkamp. He grew up in Paterson, NJ and Newark, NJ.
He attended local public schools in Paterson and Newark and graduated from Arts High School, the first visual and performing arts high school established in the United States. He served in the U.S. Navy (1952-1956) in the medical corps. Upon his return from the military service, he continued his study of art and worked for various advertising agencies in the New York metropolitan area. He then became a self-employed commercial artist until his retirement.
Art married Florence Rose in July 1958. They raised their family in Hawthorne, NJ and then moved to St. Petersburg in 1986. Art was a past member of the Elks Lodge 1224 of St. Petersburg and was an avid bowler at Ten Pins Lanes until he became ill in January 2009. Art enjoyed home improvement projects and following the Tampa Bay Rays. He was quick with a joke, never had an unkind word about anyone, and always left you smiling . . . if you had a sense of humor. Most of all, Art enjoyed his time with his family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Art is survived by his wife of 52 years, Florence; daughter and son-in-law Donna and Joseph Klein; daughter and son-in-law Karen and Chuck Lee; granddaughters Danielle Harkins (& George Harkins), Rachel Klein and Eileen Lee; great-grandchildren Olivia and George Harkins; brother Dick Veldkamp; sisters Mina Pidcock and Bertha Molendyk; and was pre-deceased by sister Johanna Molendyk.
The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the American Cancer Society volunteers who helped during Art’s medical treatments in the spring of 2009, the staff at Egret Cove Nursing Center for going above and beyond to help “Mr. Art”, Suncoast Hospice Gold Team, the staff at Hospice Woodside and especially to their dear friend, Mary Jones, for always being there to support Art and Florence during this difficult time.
Interment at Bay Pines National Cemetery will be private. A memorial gathering will be held at a later date to be determined. Donations in Art’s memory may be made to Suncoast Hospice or The American Cancer Society.
My heart and prayers go out to you and your family.
My sincere condolence.
Love you Flo!!
Flo, Our thoughts are with you and your family.If there is anything we can do let us know.Love Laura & Warren
Hello Flo, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. You are in my thoughts. Love Kathy
Hello Flo, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. You are in my thoughts. Love Kathy
Flo and Family,
Art was such a wonderfully caring man. He will be truly missed by his loved ones. You must have had the toughest year holding things together. At least Mary was there, as always, giving her helping hands.
We offer you and your family our sincerest sympathy.
Flo and Family,
Art was such a wonderfully caring man. He will be truly missed by his loved ones. You must have had the toughest year holding things together. At least Mary was there, as always, giving her helping hands.
We offer you and your family our sincerest sympathy.
Flo
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this very difficult time.
Joann Smith
I think about you and miss you every day. Much love,
Karen
My husband and I now live in the Veldcamps’ former home. I ran across this obituary by accident and want to tell the family that we dearly love your family house and have left a lot of the original features. It made me smile to read that Art loved home improvement, because even after 12 years, we will be doing some repairs or updates in the house and we will say, “I can tell that was an Art project.” So even though we never met your parents, their spirit remains. I hope it would make them happy to know that their home is loved, and we will do our best to make sure that when it is time, we will pass it to someone else who will love it and its spirit too.