Melvin F. Vande Berg

April 18, 1916 - November 3, 2014

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Saturday 11/8, 10:00 am - 11:00 am

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Saturday 11/8, 11:00 am - 11:45 am

Melvin F. Vande Berg, 98, of Beaver Dam was called home to Heaven on November 3, 2014, while residing at Hillside Manor in Beaver Dam. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 8, 2014 at St. Stephen’s Ev. Lutheran Church in Beaver Dam with the Rev. Philip Heyer officiating. A visitation will also be held on Saturday from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. at the church. Interment will be held at Highland Memory Gardens, Township of Trenton, WI. On April 18, 1916, Mel was born to Chris and Sarah (Ferch) Vande Berg in Brandon, WI. He grew up and farmed in Waupun until he married Lorraine M. Helmer on June 2, 1945 at St. Stephen’s Ev. Lutheran Church in Beaver Dam. After moving to Beaver Dam, Mel became a co-owner of “Mel and Paulie’s Tavern.” After the sale of the tavern, he was employed as a sheet metal fabricator with Metalfab from 1950 until his retirement in 1977. Mel was an avid gardener, supplying his family and friends with many kinds of produce. In 2012, he had a total of 90 tomato plants, which were his pride and joy. In 2010, the “Beaver Dam Daily Citizen” ran a front page feature story with his picture of his gardening expertise at the age of 94. Mel’s hobbies also included baking, especially in the winter months. He was a member of St. Stephen’s Ev. Lutheran Church in Beaver Dam. Mel is survived by his four children: Lorrie (Michael) Zwieg of Beaver Dam, Betty (Paul) Klug, Jerrold (Becky) Vande Berg and Christine Grosshans all of Lake Mills; 13 grandchildren: Arianne Longseth, Thomas (Hippy) Klug, Andy (Leanor) Klug, Ted (Kirstie) Klug, Amanda (Brian) Humann, Brandon, David and Katie Klug, Jay (Kristen) Vande Berg, Jon Vande Berg, Jennifer Vande Berg, Michael Grosshans and Kevin Grosshans; 11 great-grandchildren; his sister, Sylvia Hermann; his sister-in-law, Hazel Vande Berg; and is further survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Lorraine; four brothers: Kenny, Chris, Clarence and Wilbur; and his sister, Sadie Jones. Memorials in Melvin’s name may be directed to his family.

Location Not Available

Saturday 11/8, 10:00 am - 11:00 am

Location Not Available

Saturday 11/8, 11:00 am - 11:45 am

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Lorrie--so sorry I was not able to make the services for your dad, however I do want to offer my sympathy to you and your family. How absolutely wonderful that your dad loved the gardening and sharing his "goodies". He will always be there for you, whether it's guidance or to some "silly" happening. Please know that! You are in my thoughts, Lorrie.

Jerry and family, Sorry to hear about our dad and grandpa, The old neighborhood is losing its founding fathers. May God bless you now and in the days ahead.

I'm sorry that I cannot attend the services for Melvin as I have a commitment out-of-town. I will miss my weekly visit with Melvin at the Manor as we always had some good conversations. I was always amazed by his sense of humor considering his circumstances. Having lost our Dad in July after a lengthy stay at the Manor also, I can relate to your feelings. I hope you have or will come to the realization that I immediately did after our loss, that it is sometimes easier to let a loved one go rather than to watch them suffer for a long time and have to live the remainder of their life so far removed from their cherished lifestyle and home that they loved. I could tell that this was an issue with Melvin as it was with my Dad. My condolences to all of his family and try to realize and accept that Melvin is in a much better place now and no doubt has the garden of his dreams.

Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.