Obit: Van Gorden, Kenneth (1905 - 1963)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon

Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Van Gorden, Linder, Wasserburger, Ross, Trost, Wussow, Kirk, Dunlap, Capaul, Statz, Feyen, Farnsworth, Northup, Gahower, Peasley, Moe, Stenulson, Wallmuth, Krueger, Beier, Fremstad, Deirauer, Carlson, Wall, Gress, Smith, Selk, Harvey, North, Grether

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) August 15, 1963

Van Gorden, Kenneth (22 May 1905 –11 November 1963)

Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon from the United Church of Christ in Neillsville for Kenneth Van Gorden, 58, Neillsville businessman for the last 23 years, who died early Sunday following an illness of several months.

The Rev. Jack Grether was in charge.  Burial was made in the Neillsville City Cemetery.  Music for the service was provided by Mrs. Jack Grether at the organ, and Ellis Wall, the vocalist.

During 23 years in Neillsville, Mr. Van Gorden had been connected with the H. H. Van Gorden & Sons feed mill and fertilizer plant in Neillsville, and with the Royal Crown Bottling company of Neillsville, in which he was associated with his son-in-law, Charles Wasserburger.

He came here from Tomah in 1940, responding to a summons by his family to take over management of the H. H. Van Gorden & Son feed mill and fertilizer plant when his brother, Archie H. Van Gorden, was called into federal service with the Service Company of the 128^th Infantry, Wisconsin National Guard.  He remained with the company after his brother returned, and continued in that relationship for several years after the return of his nephews, Richard H. and Heron (Pink) Van Gorden, present owners and operators of the family business in Neillsville.

He left the Van Gorden mill in 1958 and was semi-retired until 1960, when he joined his son-in-law in the establishment of the Royal Crown Bottling Company, which had been operated prior to that time as the Neillsville Bottling Works.  He remained associated with this enterprise until his retirement was forced by ill health.  He had been ill for several months.

Kenneth Van Gorden was born May 22, 1905, in Hixton, the son of Mrs. Nellie Van Gorden and the late Harry Van Gorden.  In his boyhood he moved with the family to Alma Center, where he attended school and worked in his father’s general store and feed mill.  In 1932, he took over the operation of the mill, and remained there for five years.

In 1937, he purchased a bulk gasoline business in Tomah, which he operated until he was called to Neillsville to assume management of the Van Gorden business here.

He was married June 15, 1929, in Winona, Minn., to the former Lucille Linder, who survives. Also surviving are three daughters, Mrs. Charles (Patricia) Wasserburger of Neillsville, Mrs. Richard (Bonita) Ross of Schofield, and Mrs. Albert (Nellie) Trost of Carrolton, Va.; his mother, Mrs. Nellie Van Gorden; two brothers, Archie of Jupiter, Fla. and Lake Arbutus, and Bruce of Black River Falls; and by four grandchildren.

Arrangements for the service were made by the Georgas Funeral Home.  Pallbearers were: Fred Wall, Art Gress, Albert Smith, August Selk, Robert Harvey and Gust North.

People from out of town attending were: Mr. and Mrs. George Wussow, Mr. and Mrs. Harmon Van Gorden, Mrs. Mary Van Kirk, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Dunlap, Mrs. John Capaul, and Mr. and Mrs. Tony Statz, all of Alma Center; Mr. and Mrs. Philip Feyen and H. B. Farnsworth of Humbird; Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Northup of La Crosse; Mr. and Mrs. Ray Northup of Camp McCoy; Mr. and Mrs. B. B. Van Gorden of Taylor; Mr. and Mrs. August Gahower of Tomah; Mr. and Mrs. Donald Van Gorden of Grantsburg; Mr. and Mrs. J. Bruce Van Gorden, Mrs. Rose Peasley, Price Moe, and Milton Stenulson, all of Black River Falls; Alvina Linder, Mrs. Anna Linder and Mrs. Lillian Wallmuth of Merrillan; Edward Linder of Markesan; Mr. and Mrs. Ray Krueger of West Bend; Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Linder of Hartford; Mr. and Mrs. M. F. Beier of West Salem; Clifford Fremstad of Whitehall; Mr. and Mrs. R. Deirauer of Minneapolis, Minn.; Mr. and Mrs. John Linder of Cedarville, Ill.; Bruley Carlson and Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Van Gorden of Eau Claire; Mr. and Mrs. Richard Ross of Schofield; Mr. and Mrs. Archie Van Gorden of Jupiter, Fla.; and Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Fremstad of Osseo.