October 30, 1934 - 1997
Welcome to the VanderBlog at VanderMeerBakery.com
Pete Vander Meer Sr. opened the Vander Meer Bakery in LeMars Iowa on October 30, 1934.
His son, Pete Vander Meer Jr. became a partner in the early 1960s and eventually bought the bakery from his father in the early 1970s.
He ran the business until he retired in 1997, at which time he sold the bakery.
This site presents bakery memorabilia collected by Pete Jr. over the years. We hope you enjoy it.
Original Storefront
Opening Announcement
First Ad
Inside the Original Store
Pete Sr in Holland
Storefront from 1930s
Old Bakery Truck
Flour Sack Girls
Low Prices
Smorgasbord
Play it Again, Jim
Frozen Pete
Holiday Display
Remodeled Storefront
Remodeled Store 1974
Fruitcake Production
Wrapping Room
Candy Sales
Smoke Rings
Ridiculous Days
National Retail Bakers Week
How to Buy Bread
Trophy
48th Anniversary
Dorothy Nitzschke
50th Anniversary
Peanut Brittle
A Buns Life
Cake Decorating
Graduation
Panza
Innovations
Pete Vander Meer Sr
Chamber Coffee
Agrifest
Computer Graphics
Stained Glass Windows
Iowa Bakers Association
Bakery Magazine
Bakery of the Year
Pete Vander Meer Jr
Meet the Bakers
From the Oven to the Table
For Sixty Years...
Dead Johns
Have a Cow
Party Time
Final Years
Molzen Health Food
Bakery Closing
Tribute by Margaret Dorr
Aftermath
New Beginnings
A Look Back at the Original Building