Maryalice R. Vanderkooi

Maryalice Vanderkooi, 84, of DeKalb, IL passed away peacefully on Monday, August 17, 2026, surrounded by her family at home.

Born September 24, 1941, in Chicago, IL, the daughter of John and Henrietta (Lobbes) Rooze. Maryalice married Garret “Gary” Vanderkooi on June 8, 1962, in Palos Heights, Illinois. They shared more than 64 years of marriage together.

Mary graduated from Chicago Christian High School in 1959, and went on from there to Calvin College, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She spent two years at Calvin and then completed her college work at the University of Rochester, from which she received the BS degree in 1963. In 1966 she received the MS degree in Physiology from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. She enrolled in the University of Wisconsin Medical School in 1971, receiving the MD degree in 1975. During 1987 she attended the Bangkok (Thailand) School of Tropical Medicine, of Mahidol University, and was granted the Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (D.T.M.&H).

Mary served as emergency room physician at several hospitals in Northern Illinois prior to going overseas in 1994. In 1994 she went with her husband to Ethiopia, where they lived for the next 30 years. They were members of Equip International. Their home was in Wolaita-Soddo, in southern Ethiopia. Mary held clinic once or twice a week in rural areas, where she would only treat poor people, i.e., people poor by local standards. She worked under the auspices of Soddo Christian General Hospital. When not doing medical work she spent her time teaching English and Bible in her home to many young people.

Throughout her career, Mary worked on developing the Village Medical Manual: A Guide to Health Care in Developing Countries. The Seventh Edition of this 2-volume book was published by William Carey Publishing in 2019. This work has been used all over the world by missionaries and others as a guide to medical care in places where conventional medical services are not available.

Maryalice will be remembered for her dedication to her family, her compassionate nature, and the lasting impact she made through her life and career. She will be deeply missed by her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her.

She is survived by her loving husband, Gary Vanderkooi of DeKalb; her son, Mark (Diane) Vanderkooi, also of DeKalb; her daughter, Ellen Fuglestad of Cary, IL; her sister, Ruth Salomon of Edmonton, Alberta; and her grandchildren, Daniel Fuglestad, Kate Fuglestad, and Sylvie Vanderkooi.

Visitation will be held from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at Finch Funeral Home, 310 Oak Street, DeKalb, Illinois. The funeral service will follow at 11:00 AM with Pastor Steve Persson officiating. Burial will be immediately after the service at Elmwood Cemetery in Sycamore, IL. Arrangements were entrusted to Finch Funeral Home, 310 Oak St., DeKalb, IL 60115; 815-758-3841.