Joleen Susan Vander Maten's Obituary
Joleen Susan Vander Maten
Lakeland, FL – Joleen Susan Vander Maten, 63, passed away Monday morning, June 24, 2019 at 7:55am. A memorial service will be conducted on Monday, July 1st, at 11am at Highland Park Church of the Nazarene.
Joleen was born in Asuncion, Paraguay on February 15, 1956 to Rev. Frank Ortiz and the late Rev. Rachel Ortiz. Joleen grew up in Southern California and graduated from Foothill High School. She was a member of the contemporary singing group TRUTH from 1975 – 1978 where she met and married her lifelong husband, Robert Vander Maten. Following TRUTH, Robert and Joleen enrolled at Oral Roberts University and both were members of the World Action Singers from 1978-1981. In December, 1979 while at ORU, Joleen had a malignant brain tumor and was given 9 months to a year to live, but God touched Joleen with His healing hand and gave her almost 40 more years of life.
Following her time at ORU, Joleen and Robert sang with the PTL Singers in Charlotte, NC from 1982-1985, then moved to Orange, CA where Joleen focused all her love and energy on her family – her greatest legacy.
Joleen is survived by her father, Frank Ortiz, her two brothers, Art Ortiz and Frank Ortiz, Jr., her husband of 41 years and 10 months, Robert Vander Maten, her 3 children – Deidra Hughes, Jaclene Stressman, and Joshua Vander Maten, 8 grandchildren – Paris, Nadya and Elijah Hughes, Francesca, Judah and Alexa Stressman, and Jonah and Hadleigh Vander Maten.
Visitation will be at Gentry Morrison Funeral Home Southside from 5:00pm – 8:00pm on Sunday, June 30th.
Graveside service will be at Oak Hill Cemetery at 9:00am on Monday, July 1st. Memorial Service will be at Highland Park Church of the Nazarene at 11:00am on Monday, July 1st.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Joleen's honor through the following link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/joleen-vander-maten?teamInvite=cs9KRGVRUh8JH53d1YgFj9tZur5OLawG1EjF8hDBrFJnWy1HTXKOgDBPLg8xd4p9
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