Obit: Fetting, Ted #2 (1943 - 2017)
Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail:
dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Fetting
----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 4/12/2017
Fetting, Theodore Fred “Ted” (1943 – 1 April 2017) With Flag
Ted Fetting, adored and cherished father, brother, son, and friend, died April
1, 2017, at the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center in Milwaukee.
Born in 1943 in Delavan, where his parents owned a dairy farm, Ted grew up a
“good Wisconsin farm boy.” After his parents moved to a farm in central
Wisconsin, Ted attended Greenwood High School, followed by the University of
Wisconsin-River Falls. During these years, Ted’s most memorable exploits
involved riding bulls and saddle broncs at various rodeos. He later referred to
this pastime as “idiocy,” but always with a sparkle in his eyes.
In 1967, Ted volunteered for the Vietnam War to eliminate his younger brothers’
eligibility for the draft. There he became a machine gunner for the U. S. Army
9th Infantry and distinguished himself during the bloody Tet Offensive. Ted was
awarded the Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts in addition to many other
honorary medals. The war was the defining experience of Ted’s life.
When he returned to the states, Ted immediately became a vocal advocate for
Vietnam veterans returning home. He was the first Vietnam veteran to be
appointed by Wisconsin’s governor to the prestigious Board of Veterans’ affairs
where he served among Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II and Korean
War veterans.
In 197f4, Ted ran for Congress in Wisconsin’s 3rd District. Despite a
hard-fought campaign that saw him walk the entire length of the district, Ted
was narrowly defeated in the primary. Never one to accept a setback, Ted
continued his political advocacy work for the rest of his life. He had a number
of governmental roles, including ombudsman in Veterans’ Affairs for the state of
Wisconsin and Milwaukee County veterans service officer. He was most proud of
his involvement with The Highground Veterans Memorial Park in Neillsville and
the Vietnam Women’s Memorial in Washington D.C.
Ted was an avid collector. He collected physical things like sports cards,
autographs, books, coins, stamps, newspapers, and bobble heads. More
importantly, he collected friends everywhere he went, loved to reminisce about
practical jokes he and his cohorts pulled off, and endlessly talked about
history, books, and politics.
Ted’s life is not one easily defined by a few paragraphs. He also ran a real
estate business, performed Notary Public, and auctioneer services, helped build
skyscrapers, and bridges, attended the infamous ’68 Chicago Convention, cheered
on Nolan Ryan for his 300th victory and the Bulls for their 70th, and tirelessly
worked on behalf of local and national Democratic candidates. He was generous to
a fault with his time and money – a direct marketer’s dream in that he
contributed to virtually everything he believed in.
Ted loved yellow corvettes, root beer floats, Danica Patrick, and having
everyone who was anyone sign a baseball. (And he believed everyone WAS anyone.)
Ted is survived by daughter Katie son Nicholas, siblings Ruth, Ralph, David, and
Lily, ex-wife Louann, daughters-in-law Lesley, and Aviva, granddaughters Avery,
and Erin, and soon-to-be grandsons Max and Teddy. He is also survived by the
hundreds of friends whom he delighted and delighted in. For those who passed
before him, we know he is particularly excited to see his parents and great
friends Jeff, Harvey, and Howard.
Ted Fetting died the way he lived, with strength, bravery, and grace surrounded
by love.
A memorial service will be held at the Milwaukee War Memorial Sunday, April 30,
2017, at 2 p.m.
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