Iwo Jima Marine, Bronze Star Winner: Ex-Manchester Councilman Vanderziel Dies At 93

MANCHESTER, NJ — Manchester Township officials and residents are mourning the passing of former Township Councilman Kenneth Vanderziel, who died Wednesday at the age of 93.

Vanderziel served on the township council for two stints, from 1990 to 2000 and again from 2004 to 2011, township officials said in a news release. In addition to serving the township, Vanderziel also served the United States as a Marine, fighting in the battle at Iwo Jima and earning four Bronze Stars, the release said.

“We appreciate Ken’s years of service and his commitment to Manchester Township,” said Mayor Kenneth Palmer, who ordered flags to fly at half-staff at the Municipal Complex to honor Vanderziel.

Vanderziel was born April 7, 1923, in Council Bluffs, Iowa, which is where he began a long career with Union Pacific Railroad. He served as a U.S. Marine for four years beginning in 1942, and was deployed to the South Pacific during World War II from 1943 to 1945.

Vanderziel, who fought in the Battle of Iwo Jima, received four Bronze Stars, two Presidential Unit Commendations, a Navy Unit Commendation, and other honors.

Vanderziel and his family moved to Summit in 1963 and after rising through the ranks at Union Pacific he retired from his position as assistant treasurer in 1978. He then worked as an IRS auditor from 1979-1982, and later started his own business doing individual tax returns until 1984.

Following his retirement from the private sector, Vanderziel turned his attention to serving Manchester Township, where he and wife Mary Louise moved in 1984. He served as councilman from 1990 to 2000, and after taking time off to tend to family, returned to public service by winning re-election in 2004. He served on the council until his retirement in 2011.

"Justifiably skeptical of the township’s finances at the time under disgraced Administrator Joseph Portash, Mr. Vanderziel kept a close eye on the local government and won a council seat in 1990 as a member of the Stop Tax Oppression Promptly group," the township news release said.

"Ken was very knowledgeable about life, city government, and he told me how to be a good councilman and how one should govern,” Council President James Vaccaro said. “I patterned my personal life, and my terms as a councilman, following Ken’s advice and principles in ethics and finance. Ken was my mentor and he surely will be missed. I would call him periodically just to talk and keep him updated, and I will miss doing so."

“I had the honor of serving with Councilman Vanderziel for 13 years," Council Vice President Sam Fusaro said. "He was a member of the original council members elected after the Manchester change of government in 1990, and served as our first council president."

"Ken had a deep passion for Manchester and worked tirelessly to improve the quality of life for all of our residents," Fusaro said. "He was a role model for all our entire elected officials to follow."

A memorial service for Mr. Vanderziel will be held after the New Year, date to be determined.

From left: Councilman Warren Reiter, Councilman Kenneth Vanderziel, Mayor Michael Fressola, and Councilman Fred Trutkoff at a 2013 gathering. Manchester Township photo