Wings of Mercy Founder Peter VandenBosch died Oct. 15 at the age of 91. He had recently experienced a significant decline after enjoying many years of good health, according to Wings of Mercy officials.
“I am extremely saddened by the loss of my friend,” said Board President Terry Boer. “Peter devoted the last 23 years of his life to this wonderful mission. His faith, dedication, and hard work were something to emulate.”
As founder of Wings of Mercy, Peter made it possible for thousands of people to have access to specialized healthcare when they couldn’t afford to travel, Boer noted.
Since 1991, Wings pilots have donated more than 8,000 free flights for people in need. Peter flew more than 200 of them himself.
At his induction into the Michigan Aviation Hall of Fame last May, Peter said, “Wings of Mercy has changed my life more than I could have ever imagined.”
A faithful mentor to the end, Peter enjoyed visits from most of “His Board Members” in the past week and received assurance from all that they would stay true to his vision and to the core values that have been the foundation for Wings of Mercy.
Boer said, “He didn’t coast to the end his life. Instead he finished strong and set the bar very high for the rest of us.”