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Obituary for VAN SOELEN


Published in the Albuquerque Journal on Friday December 05, 2008

Theodore Van Soelen, Jr. 1924 - 2008 Theodore "Ted" Van Soelen, Jr., 84, of Clovis, died on Monday, December 1, 2008. Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 6, 2008 at First United Methodist Church in Clovis, with Rev. Harry Riser officiating. Burial will follow at Mission Garden of Memories, Clovis. Ted was born in Tesuque, NM, on May 31, 1924 to Theodore and Virginia Carr Van Soelen. He attended primary school in Santa Fe, and attended prep school at Loomis School in Windsor, CT. After service in the U.S. Army during World War II in the Burma Theater, he earned an B.B.A. from New Mexico State University. He later earned a M.B.A. from Eastern New Mexico University. He married Esther Smith on October 25, 1969, and moved to Clovis from Albuquerque where he had a successful career as a realtor. Until his retirement, he worked as a real estate appraiser in his own firm of Van Soelen & Co. He was an active member of First United Methodist Church in Clovis. He also served as a board member of ENMRSH, and the A.R.C.. He was active in the Ranchmen's Camp Meetings in the Southwest, and the Boy Scouts of America. Ted received recognition as an Outstanding Centennial Alumni from NMSU, and was recognized as Realtor of the Year from the Clovis Board of Realtors in 1999. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends. He was a devoted husband to his dear wife Esther; and a beloved father to his children Marian (Todd) Hand of Clovis, Beverly Van Soelen (Robert McCauley) of Waukee, IA, Fred (Erin) Van Soelen of Clovis, and Darrell (Elizabeth) Van Soelen of Las Cruces; and a loving grandfather to Jacob and Thea Hand, James, Myles and Caroline McCauley, and America and Silver Van Soelen. He is also survived by his brother, D.D. "Don" Van Soelen of Santa Fe; and nephews Tom Van Soelen and Jim Van Soelen; and niece Karen Frizzell He and his dear wife Esther also welcomed into their home, two students from Bosnia, Selma Catovic Hughes, now of Little Rock, AR, and Alena Causevic Raymond, now of Albuquerque, and thought of them as family. He was preceded in death by his parents; and by his sister Virginia "Jay" Van Soelen. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to First United Methodist Church, Clovis, or ENMRSH. Arrangements are under the direction of Steed Todd Funeral Home 800 E. Manana Blvd, Clovis, New Mexico 88101 (575) 763-5541 online memorials www.steedtodd.com


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