Obit: Vradenburg, David C. (1939 - 2013)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Vradenburg, Miller, Grover, Belknap

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 3/13/2013

Vradenburg, David C. (15 March 1939 - 6 March 2013)

David C. Vradenburg, 73, of Neillsville passed away peaceably at his home surrounded by his family, Wednesday, March 6, 2013, after a six-month battle with pancreatic cancer.

David was born March 15, 1939, in Wisconsin Rapids to parents Clem and Frances (Miller) Vradenburg. He lived on the family farm near Vesper along with his beloved Grandpa Tom and Grandma Flossie. As a young boy, he washed many milk bottles in the family Vradenburg Dairy business located on the farm.

He attended the Vesper and Turner grade schools and the Bethel Jr. Academy near Arpin. He graduated from Lincoln High School in Wisconsin Rapids in 1957.

He and Audrey (Grover) were married in Wisconsin Rapids April 2, 1959, and have celebrated 53 years of marriage. In the early years of their marriage he worked for Carl Cepress Body Shop, Frank Swetz Trucking and Sanna Dairies. He also pulped on the side with his grandpa Tom and his old horse “Nancy”. In 1963, he was hired by Pure Milk Products, which later merged with AMPI.

In 1963 he and his wife, Audrey, and two sons, Tom and Scott, moved to Shawano, where he worked as a milk tester. In 1966, he and his family moved to Neillsville. He was promoted as a field representative, working with membership with AMPI. In 1972, his third son, James was born.

In 1987, he decided to begin his own business, Belt Land Insurance, in Neillsville, retiring at the beginning of this year. He loved life and people and especially liked working and serving his senior clients. His son, Scott, joined him in a partnership in 1997.

Dave was always a very loving and devoted husband and father. He worked very hard and provided his family with a very good living. He was very talented and had many interests and hobbies. If anything was broke, he could fix it. The second love of his life was his beloved street rod. He rebuilt and repainted it many times since buying the car in his senior year in high school. His favorite pastime was cruising in his street rod and attending many car shows and swap meets.

Per his wishes, private graveside services will be held in the spring when the grass is green and the birds are singing. Our “hot rod” husband and father will be missed so very much.

David is survived by his loving wife, Audrey, and his three sons, Thomas, Scott and James; four cats, one dog; brothers-and-sisters-in-law, George and Patricia-Grover Belknap, Jon and Kim Grover; nieces and nephews and many friends.

Because of his love for animals, all memorials will be given to the Clark County Humane Society.