- Merle Vandenberg, 92, Kimberly, dearly loved by everyone who was blessed to know him, was born to eternal life Sunday, January 31, 2010, at St. Paul Villa, Kaukauna. He was born November 8, 1917, in Freedom, the seventh son and 14th child of Lambert and Elizabeth (Scholl) Vandenberg. Merle married Jayne VandenHeuvel May 9, 1953, at St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church, Little Chute, and she preceded him in death on July 19, 2009, exactly 28 weeks prior to Merle's death.
Merle was a devoted husband to Jayne and a loving father to Lynne Bishop (Bill Ficken), Spooner; Guy (Deb) Vandenberg, Lino Lakes, MN; and Joy (Steve) Wind, Sleepy Hollow, IL. He was loved deeply by his grandchildren: Aiden and Blake Bishop, Kyle and Gavin Vandenberg, and Kaley and Casey Wind, as well as all his grand-dogs. Jayne and Merle had lived in the same house on Jefferson Place in Kimberly for 52 years.
They were members of Holy Name Parish, Kimberly, for many years, and recently re-joined St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church, Little Chute, where Merle found great peace in attending daily mass. Merle was employed at the Bank of Little Chute (BLC Community Bank) for many years, and Van Zeeland Implement Company prior to that. In his later years, he took great joy in volunteering, first at Holy Name, then with Meals on Wheels, and St. Vincent de Paul. Merle was a U.S. Army Air Corps veteran having served in World War II. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus. In addition to his God and his family, Merle had a great love for music, and he reminisced about all the bands he saw in his younger days. During their retirement, Merle and Jayne enjoyed spending time at the family cabin on Spooner Lake in Northwestern Wisconsin. There they made fond memories for several summers with their children, grandchildren and new friends.
In addition to his family, Merle is survived by a sister-in-law, Ceil Vandenberg; three brothers-in-law: Harold (Marian), Roman, and Ben (Priscilla) VandenHeuvel; many marvelous nieces and nephews, wonderful neighbors of over 50 years, and many friends. We were truly blessed to have had him with us for so very long, but we will miss him tremendously. He was a genuine inspiration to all who knew him.
Merle was also preceded in death by his parents; a granddaughter, Sarah Vandenberg; eight sisters: Elly (Jack) Hooyman, Jane (Joe Weber) (Louis Meyer), Min (Ott) Verstegen, Ag (Frank) DeBruin "Gramma and Papa Brown," Roselle (Mart) VanAsten, Angeline (Paul) Pairon, Florence (Pete) DeMunck, Myrtle "Snooky" (Jap) Liebergen; 7 brothers: John (Delphina "Dimps"), Joe (Laura), Ted (Mary), Vince (Nell), Elmer "Bummy" (Ena), Gordon "Butch," Aloys "Bud" (Ceil) Vandenberg; three brothers-in-law: Noel (Ellen Hammen), Gus (Nancy Holmes), Roger (Carole) VandenHeuvel; 10 nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, February 4, 2010, at St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church, 323 S. Pine Street, Little Chute, with Fr. Bert Ebben officiating. Interment will be in St. Nicholas Cemetery, Freedom. Visitation will be at the Verkuilen Funeral Home, 101 Canal Street, from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday and again at the church from 9:30 a.m. Thursday until the time of the mass. Military honors will be performed by the U.S. Army Air Force/Corps and members of the Jacob Coppus American Legion Post 258, Little Chute following mass at the church.
Verkuilen Funeral Home
& Cremation Services
Little Chute 920-788-3321
www.verkuilenfh.com
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1917 - 2010 (92 years)
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