The Oregon Association of Nursery is saddened to report that Van Belle Nursery founder Bill Van Belle passed away in Abbotsford, B.C., Canada on July 5.
Even in the last few weeks before Van Belle passed away, his passion for plants and the thrill of being part of the nursery industry was as strong as ever, the nursery said in a tribute to him on its website. In between his treatments for the cancer that eventually won out, he would feel strong enough to tour around the nursery by car or in his golf cart, still marveling at the magic of plants rooting out in early spring. “It still gives me a thrill,” he would say. After reading a trip report from a Van Belle staff member talking about long travel days, diner food and the promising grower visits, he commented, “it still makes my adrenalin rush!”
He lived out that passion for more than 50 years since founding Van Belle Nursery with his wife Grace in 1973. And that passion helped create a thriving business with a North American wide reach and a team of hundreds of industry professionals continuing to build the business, fueled by their own passion and wits. A fulfillment of Bill’s dream.
Bill was born March 2, 1945 and was 80 years old. Grace, his wife of 55 years, passed away in February 2025.