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Elmer ''Dutch'' E. Vanderkooi of Sherman, N.Y., died Monday evening, Oct. 26 2009, at St. Vincent's after a brief illness with cancer.

He was born May 6, 1931, in Clymer, N.Y., to the late Ray and Ruth Bemis Vanderkooi.

He graduated from Panama Central School in 1950. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force where he taught radio at Scott Air Force Base. He worked on guided missiles and telemetry at Cape Canaveral until his discharge as an Airman First Class in 1953.

Dutch worked for Agway Construction and then shared partnership in Vanderkooi & Reardon Construction Co. His family lived in Panama before moving to Tyler, Texas, in 1976. He was a self-employed contractor until his retirement in 1999.

He had served as a volunteer fireman in the Panama Fire Department. He was a member of the Panama Methodist Church and served as a trustee and Adult Sunday school teacher. He also served on several mission teams including Haiti, Minnesota and Oklahoma. He was a member and president of the Harmony Senior Citizens and a former justice of the peace for the Town of Harmony.

Dutch was a sports enthusiast who enjoyed hunting locally and in Canada and Colorado. He and his wife provided a home for many foster children over the years.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, the former Marilyn Jean Goldberg, whom he married on Dec. 20, 1952; two daughters: Denise (Geary) TeWinkle of Ashville and Rhonda (Jim) Dorsey of Garland, Texas; three grandchildren: Dr. Kathryn Burk of Rochester, N.Y., Michael TeWinkle of Jamestown, and Michelle TeWinkle of Wisconsin; two great-grandchildren; two sisters: Carrol Brockway of Lakewood, and Rachel (Cliff) Reardon of Panama; a brother-in-law, John Goldberg of Panama; several nieces and nephews; a foster daughter, Elaine Rarey of Warren, Pa.; and Alan McEntarfer of Tyler, Texas, who was like a son.

He was proceeded in death by a brother, Donald Vanderkooi, and three sisters: Marie Goss, Rebecca Craig and Susan Jaquith.

Visitation will be held at Panama Methodist Church on Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. and Thursday from 2 to 3 p.m. with a funeral service to follow at 3 p.m. at the church. Burial to be held in Panama at the convenience of the family.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggest memorials be made to the Trustees of the Panama Methodist Church or the Sherman Volunteer Fire Department.

Arrangements made by Spitzer Funeral Home in Sherman.