John “Rick” Richard Dirck Van Clief, Jr.
March 23rd, 1949 – March 28th, 2025
The Reverend Rick Van Clief, Pastor of Grace Baptist Church, Winter Haven, went to be with his Lord and Savior, March 28, 2025, at Good Shepherd Hospice, Auburndale.
Born March 23, 1949, John Richard Dirck Van Clief Junior was the eldest son of J.R. Dirck Van Clief Senior and Jane Lee Stanley. A third generation native, Rick was the grandson of business pioneers O.C. and Susie White Stanley, of Bartow and William Carroll and Margaret Van Clief of Bridgehampton Long Island.
The 1950s was an ideal place for Rick and his brothers David, Paul and Andrew to grow up. Society was a lot safer for little boys to ride bikes, swim, fish, hunt and explore from sunrise to dusk. Their escapades often went undetected by their mother but made lively dinner conversations decades later.
Rick graduated from Winter Haven High School where he participated in band under the direction of legendary Roy Wood. The 1960s and ‘70s were turbulent times for our country and Rick was ready to do his part. Lt. J.R.D. Van Clief was the Commanding Officer for the 47th Scout Dog Platoon, 101st Airborne Rangers, stationed at Phu Bai Vietnam, and remained so until the unit was given orders to stand down. He was the last man out, after reassigning all handlers and dogs. Army rules were different then and his only regret was that he could not bring his partner, “Rolfe” home with him.
Never one to ignore a need he could address, Rick stepped into the role of Youth Minister at Calvary Baptist Church Winter Haven with his typical “all-or-nothing” philosophy. Bible Studies, youth retreats and fund raisers were equally important as canoe trips, scavenger hunts and Underground Church. His most effective outreach took place in the kitchen as cinnamon rolls quickly became the main event every Friday night.
After graduation from [then] Polk Community College and the University of South Florida College of Engineering, Rick worked for several engineering firms, the most notably Jacobs International Engineering. He was part of the team contracted for work designing recovery docks for NASA at Kennedy Space Center. Work automatically came to a complete halt when curious alligators and manatees became a minor job hazard.
With a wide range of gifts and interests Rick’s activities were as varied as the weather. He raced bicycles, built and rode motorcycles, designed and flew radio controlled airplanes, fly fished, jumped out of real airplanes, water-skied, scuba dived, played softball, collected yoyos and fishing reels, built his own canoe paddles and tackled the earliest AutoCad programs as technology moved beyond the drafting board.
God’s Call upon his life was as much a surprise to Rick as to others. He packed up his wife and young son and went to Louisville KY. He graduated from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree. The greatest education in seminary does not come in the classroom. Those were good times and hard times. He pastored Cane Run General Baptist Church and also worked for a high-end architect whose work sometimes appeared in Southern Living. He studied and worked and sometimes slept and actually walked to school in the snow. Through it all Rick’s heart belonged to his Lord, Jesus Christ. But home always beckoned
In his 20 years as Pastor at Grace Baptist Church he considered a five block radius surrounding the Church “his neighborhood”. Most afternoons he was a familiar sight standing on the corner of 2nd Street SE and Avenue G SE watching the kids get off the school bus and waving at folks as they drove home. What neighborhood folks remember best are his evening walks talking to people working in their yards or sitting on their porches. As the church building aged he could often be spotted on the Sanctuary’s flat roof patching leaks.
In addition to his parents, and grandparents Rick was predeceased by his brother David Van Clief of Loudon County Virginia and a daughter Amanda K. Miller of Winter Haven. He is survived by his wife of forty one years, Judy and sons Dirck Van Clief III (Melissa) of Bartow and Shawn M. Smith (Tonya) of Winter Haven. He is survived by his brothers Paul Van Clief and Andrew Van Clief (Debbie) both of Winter Haven.
Rick is survived by 9 grandchildren: Gregory (Meredith) Manley; Benjamin (Laura Beth) Smith of Valdosta, GA; Ryan (Meelisa) Smith; Spencer (Mary) Miller; Maelee Smith; Specialist Noah (Chelsey) Smith, U.S Army; Aiden Miller all of Winter Haven; John Michael Van Clief and Lydia Rose Van Clief of Bartow. And he is blessed with four beautiful great-granddaughters, Madison Manley, Kallie Grace Smith, Emma Katherine Miller and Amelia James Smith.
A memorial service will be held Thursday April 3, 2025 at First Baptist Church, 410 Church Street Bartow. Visitation will be at 4:00 p.m., Service 5:00 p.m. with Pastor Matthew McCraw and Dirck Van Clief officiating.
Arrangements handled by Steele’s Family Funeral Services.
The family suggest donations may be made in Rick’s name online to Samaritan’s Purse at samaritanspurse.org/disaster/hurricane or to Forsythe Hospice, Auburndale online at [email protected]
