- Francis J. "Fatso" Vander Velden, 86, of 1517 Leona St., Appleton, died Wednesday, February 6, 2008, at Appleton Medical Center. He was born January 27, 1922, in Kimberly, Wisconsin, to Martin and Gertrude (LeRoy) Vander Velden. He graduated from Kimberly High School in 1941 and served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He was a member of the quartermaster corps in India that loaded planes flying supplies over the hump of the Himalayas into China. He was honorably discharged, returned to Kimberly and worked at the Kimberly-Clark paper mill, which later became Midtec. He retired from the company in 1984.
In 1954, he married Mary Lou Fielder Whitefoot. After her death in 1985, he married Mary Jane Greinert. Francis was a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Kimberly and American Legion Post No. 60 in Kimberly. He enjoyed muskie fishing, feeding the birds, bowling, and sheepshead. He will be remembered for everything about him that was good and kind and faithful.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Jane; a son and daughter-in-law, Grant and Julie, of Dubuque, Iowa; three grandchildren: Mary Lona, Ryan Francis and James Martin; two sisters: Sister Rita Vander Velden O.P. of Racine and Bette Derus of Menasha; a brother, Tom (Carol), of Plains, Montana; nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Mary Lou; brothers: Robert, Clarence and Eugene; and sisters: Elaine Wiatrowski and Grace Sauerbriet.
Funeral services will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Highland Memorial Park Chapel with Sister Annette Koss officiating. Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. at the chapel. Entombment will be in the Highland Memorial Park. In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, a memorial fund is being established.
Valley Funeral Home
2211 N. Richmond St.
Appleton, WI 54911
920-733-5435
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1922 - 2008 (86 years)
Education - High School
