Terry (Kapets) VanDamme

Terry A. (Kapets) VanDamme passed away Saturday June 15, 2024 at St. Vincent Hospital in Green Bay, WI with her daughter Sara at her side. She had a short but fierce battle with cancer.

Terry was born April 29, 1954 and grew up in Ironwood, MI, the daughter of the late Genevieve and Charles Kapets. She graduated from LL Wright High School in 1972, and then attended Northern Michigan University working towards a degree in business. She enjoyed being employed with Kmart and traveling doing store set-ups, until she married her husband of 39 years, David VanDamme on May 25, 1985, and became a homemaker and full-time mom.

She loved flowers and gardening, belonging to the Garden Club for several years, and earned a Master Gardener’s certificate. She bowled every Monday night on a league for many, many years and took up golfing and oil painting. She spent countless hours on the phone with friends and family, reading them recipes and local grocery ads. When traveling she delighted in “helping” to drive and reading every road sign out loud – just so you didn’t miss anything. She adored reading and craft shows and passed her hobby onto the next generations. She was a member of the Aurora Club in Ironwood, MI, and her family would often tease her about her “day drinking” which consisted of one glass of wine and perhaps a cranberry juice to last her the afternoon – she mainly went to socialize. She was a fabulous cook and baker and could whip up something out of nothing, and never, ever followed a recipe.

She will be dearly missed by her husband, David VanDamme; daughter Sara (Lance Rasmussen) VanDamme, son Bradley (Julie) VanDamme, son Scott VanDamme, daughter Jaime (Elias) AbuDaya, sister Jane (Richard) Brinkman, grandchildren Courtney (Mike Wallace) VanDamme, Megan (Eddie) Terres, Travis VanDamme; Ameera AbuDaya, Alia AbuDaya, Adn AbuDaya; great-grandchildren Lawrence Spring, Jaxon Wallace; Great-Aunt Dolores Jacisin, many nieces and nephews, and special friends Kathy, Debbie, and Sue.

The VanDamme Family would like to thank the countless doctors, nurses, and medical staff that allowed us to spend these last few months with Terry.

Services will be held with the help of Skradski Funeral Home on July 2, 2024 at the Rapid River Congregational Church. Visitation from 10am-noon, with service and luncheon to follow.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Delta County Cancer Alliance and the Altrusa House in Green Bay, WI