Sherwood D. VanDewark

He was born Mar. 9, 1943, in Erie, PA, the first of four sons born to Elmer and Allene VanDewark, and was raised in Busti, NY. Sherwood was a graduate of Southwestern Central High School, University of Buffalo, and Purdue University. He was also a graduate of the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle in 2003.

After his schooling, Sherwood was a biochemist at Parke-Davis in Ann Arbor, MI, but felt a calling to return to the farm on which he was raised. After eight years there he returned to industry, serving as a chemist and manager in the Chemistry / Metallurgy Lab at Cummins Engine. He retired after 25 years in 2006. Sherwood continued to be active in the community, ushering at the Chautauqua Amphitheater and volunteering at St. Susan’s Center and UPMC Chautauqua (WCA) Hospital, and on behalf of Audubon Community Nature Center.

Sherwood loved everything Jamestown, including watching the marching band at halftime, girls’ volleyball games, and ushering at Serendipity Concerts. He needed a box of Kleenex nearby when he watched ‘Call the Midwife’ or ‘All Creatures Great and Small’ on PBS. Sherwood was a fine baker and made delicious molasses cookies.

He is survived by his loving wife of thirty years, Lissa Steiger VanDewark; son Jason (Amy) VanDewark of Concord, NC; daughter Carrie V. McCracken of Aurora, IL; granddaughters Carly (Matthew) Sholar of Columbia, SC, and Alison VanDewark of Washington, DC; brothers Brian VanDewark (Brenda) of Hilton, NY, and Warren (Diane) VanDewark of Busti.

In addition to his parents, Sherwood was preceded in death by his first wife Nancy Stewart VanDewark (1978) and brother Neil VanDewark (1994).

The family will receive friends from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Monday, July 7th in the Lind Funeral Home, 805 West Third Street, Jamestown, NY. A celebration of life and reception will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, July 8th at Country Elegance Farms, 3571 Mead Road, Jamestown, NY.

The family wishes to extend their appreciation for Sherwood’s care to the staff of Roswell Park and Heritage Green.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Marjorie L. Larson Memorial Nursing Scholarship at Chautauqua Region Community Foundation; Chautauqua Area Habitat for Humanity; or to a charity dear to you. To share words of condolence, please visit www.lindfuneralhome.com.