Obituary: Vanderwilde, Alex
Alex came to the Spokane area in 1956.
As a young doctor, Alex worked at St. Luke’s Hospital at the old West Central location, where he met Louise Leitz, of Waverly, Washington, a nursing student there.
They were married and had five children: Patricia, Brenda, Russell, Wanda, and Heidi (and twelve grandchildren).
One of Alex and Louise’s accomplishments was the acquisition and improvement of land that became the family tree farm in Fighting Creek, Idaho.
It was a great source of refuge and tranquility for Alex and his family.
Memories of his adolescent years in a prison camp in Indonesia, where he was separated from his siblings during World War II, followed him through life.
His lifelong interest in that war, and his study of it, were perhaps his way of bringing meaning to that terrible conflict.
Alex served as a family physician for decades in the Spokane community, and he did so with a sense of humor and compassion.
By Alex’s request, no public memorial service is planned.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Hospice of Spokane or the House of Charity.