Marcel L. "Moose" Van Poucke

Marcel L. (Moose) Van Poucke died June 30, 2016, he was born Feb. 27, 1934, in Chicago to Marcel Louis

Van Poucke and Albertina Lemajeure Van Poucke. He moved from Chicago in 1953 to play football for the Arkansas Razorbacks. Here he met Nancy Stone of Siloam Springs, and they were married Sept. 1, 1956. He received his Business Administration degree from the University of Arkansas in 1957 and moved to Ft. Hood, Texas, where he proudly served his country in the U.S. Army for two years retiring as Captain.

He joined his wife in Siloam Springs in 1958 and began his history of community service. Moose and Nancy reared their three daughters, Vicki, Kathy, and Patti. The three girls were active in Rainbow Girls, an organization for young girls sponsored by the Masonic Lodge and Order of Eastern Star. Moose was the local Rainbow Dad for 20 years, and had the honor of serving as Arkansas Supreme Deputy.

Moose was a former general manager of Ralph Jones Company and former President of Jet Stream Plastics. During this period he was named one of ten Outstanding Young Men in Arkansas by the Arkansas Junior Chamber of Commerce. He served this organization as president of the local organization. He was former owner-operator of Siloam Springs Ready Mix Company. In the following 20 years, he was employed by Arvest Bank downtown as Business Development Officer.

Moose was active in the Siloam Springs Chamber of Commerce and served as president during his tenure, he established the annual Honor Graduate Luncheon for Siloam Springs High School seniors. He had also served the Chamber of Commerce Board as a member and as an ex-officio member as mayor and was currently serving as an active ambassador. He received the Pioneer Citizen Award in 2006. The Chamber Volunteer of the Year Award was named in his honor. He was currently serving on the XNA Airport Commission as Vice Chairman.

Moose received his 50 year pin from Key Lodge #7 in Siloam Springs and was a past master of the lodge. He was also a member of the Scottish Rite and had received his 33rd degree, the highest honor in Free Masonry. He was a member and past president of Siloam Springs Rotary Club, served on the board of the Adult Development Center and was a Paul Harris Fellow recipient. He was an enthusiastic golf player and had the distinction of playing the first round played on the Dawn Hill Country Club. He was a member of the Razorback A Club for former Razorback athletes and a member of the University of Arkansas Alumni Association. He was a member of First United Methodist Church, had been active on numerous committees, and he was a long-time member of the O.K. Sunday School Class.

Moose served as the mayor of Siloam Springs for 21 years. He was active in the State Municipal League and served as chairman. As Mayor his energy and enthusiasm for the community propelled him forward. He was generous with his time and personal resources in his ongoing efforts to make Siloam Springs a better place to live. His willingness to make frequent trips to the state capital and neighboring communities to further his knowledge to help improve the progress of local government as well as his travels out of the state to recruit industries, paired with his understanding of our community and others have been invaluable to the growth, development, and prosperity of Siloam Springs.

Survivors include his wife Nancy Stone Van Poucke of the home; three daughters, Vicki Metsers and husband Ron of Mountain View, Calif.; Kathy Murray and husband Mike of Cincinnati, Ark.; and Patti Eiland and husband Greg of Siloam Springs; one brother, Ken Van Poucke and his wife Nancy of Siloam Springs; six grandchildren, Chris Murray, Kevin Metsers, Erik Metsers, Tanna Eiland, Kristi Metsers and Tabitha Eiland, and one great-grandchild, Braden Murray and a number of nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be Tuesday, July 5, at 2 p.m. at the John Brown University Cathedral in Siloam Springs with Dr. Larry Dodgen officiating. Interment will be held at a later date. Funeral services are under the direction of Wasson Funeral Home. To sign the online guest book, visit www.wassonfuneralhome.com.

Memorial contributions may be sent to one of the following: Siloam Springs Scholarship Fund, 700 North Progress Ave, Siloam Springs, Ark. 72761, and Siloam Springs Rainbow Girls c/o Julie Lewis 3423 Roma Drive, Springdale, Ark. 72762