Ryan,
You’re not getting any quick replies here, so in case you’re working on it this afternoon, I’ll jump in.  To your question, yes I think that’s the only way to remove it.  Think of the fan motor and blades as a unit.  I think what you’ll do is lower the radiator, remove the screws holding the shroud to the radiator, then remove the three screws holding the fan to the shroud.  Bentley page 19.12 says “radiator fan can be removed and installed without draining coolant after lowering radiator.”  Mine is out right now with a new fan ready to be installed when I get through the heater box and under dash stuff, but it is the smaller unit not for AC.  If there is a difference for installation, someone will let you know.
gp

From: Ryan Cresawn
Sent: Saturday, July 25, 2020 2:34 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: radiator fan grinding noise

When I look at the way
the radiator fan and motor are mounted it is clear that, as Raimund wrote,
there are three nuts that mount it to the shroud. There is also a nut or
bolt that mounts the fan blade to the motor. I can't see it but I can feel
it. Is it possible to remove the three bolts and remove the motor and fan
from the shroud without removing the fan blades?