Corstiaan “Art” Vanderklis was born on July 4, 1937, in Gouda, Holland, and left this earth on Sunday, August 7, 2022.

Art lived in the Netherlands under German occupation during WWII, until he was 9 years old, when he immigrated to the U.S. with his family. They arrived first in Piercy, CA and remained until Art was in high school, at which time they moved and settled in Humboldt County. Art attended Arcata High School, where he met the love of his life, Patricia Wilkerson, who he married and remained faithful to for over 65 years.

Shortly after graduating high school in 1956, Art and Pat had two children — Kimberlee, in 1958, and Carl, in 1961 — whom he loved with all his heart.

Art began a career in law enforcement in 1959 at the Arcata Police Department and concluded his 32 years of service in 1991, with Humboldt State University as the Chief of Police and Public Safety. During his time at HSU, Art was selected to attend the FBI Academy, a tremendous honor and something he took great pride in. After he retired from law enforcement, not entirely ready to hang up his hat, Art worked in private security for 10 years at Smith Security.

Art took an active role in his community as a member of Rotary Club of Arcata, Humboldt County Peace Officers Association, National Peace Officers Association, FBI National Academy Association, Humboldt Black Powder Heritage, Jed Smith Mountain Men and Siskiyou Mountain Men, to name a few.

Art loved hunting and fishing and creating beautiful pieces of Native American jewelry. He was an avid participant in the Rendezvous community, where he made many friends and wonderful memories with his wife, children, and grandchildren as a member of the Rowdy Creek Rendezvous club for 35 years.

For over 20 years, you could find Art and Pat at the Chezem Ranch fishing in the creek, teaching their grandchildren how to swim (throwing them in the creek), picking peaches in the orchard, or just relaxing with their family from spring until fall. Countless cherished memories were made there that his family will always hold dear. If he wasn’t at Chezems, he could be found with his grandchildren at the Sundberg Family cabin on the Klamath River. During these years spent with his grandchildren he developed a deep appreciation for their Native American culture.

In 2005, Art and Pat moved to Redding, where they spent 17 years building more friendships and spending the hot Redding summers by their pool with their kids and many grandchildren. Their great-grandbabies learned how to swim at their Redding home and would convince whoever they could, including Papa Art, to be out there with them from sunrise to sunset.

They had recently moved home to Humboldt County to be closer to family.

Art is survived by his devoted and loving wife Patricia Vanderklis, and his children Kimberlee Sundberg, Carl Vanderklis (Shelly), and Miranda Vanderklis. His grandchildren Megan “Grasshopper” (Edgar), Nicolaas “Hawk,” Max “Bear” (Breana), Rachel “Raven,” Adam “Gray Wolf,” and Michael. His great grandchildren Aaliya “Cricket” and Devyn “Dancing Bear,” Brandon, Madyson, Alex, Jordynn, Saveina, and Askari. His brother Piet Vanderklis (Jean), his nieces Debbie, Kathy and his nephew Pieter, their children as well as numerous other family members and friends.

He is preceded in death by his mother and father Harry and Margaret Vanderklis, his grandson Adrian Vanderklis, and his mother and father-in-law Carl and Vivian Wilkerson.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, August 27 from 2-4 p.m. at Azalea Hall in McKinleyville. In lieu of flowers his family asks that you send donations to your favorite charity.

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The obituary above was submitted by Art Vanderklis’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.