Bio: Vanderwyst, LaVern (Granton Citizen of Year - 1975)

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

Surnames: Vanderwyst

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 9/11/1975

Vanderwyst, LaVern (Granton Citizen of Year - 1975)

LaVern Vanderwyst, recently retired mill manager at O.W. Trindal feed mill in Granton, will be honored as “Citizen of the Year” at the Granton Fall Festival, September 12, 13 and 14.

The selection is conferred annually by the Granton people at their festival.

Vanderwyst was born October 1, 1921, in Dubuque, Iowa, where his father worked for the railroad. He lived in St. Paul a short time, moved to rural Unity when ten years old and then farmed until September 1945. Working as a mill hand at Granton, he became manager of the feed mill three years later, retiring February 13 of this year due to poor health.

“Slim,” as he is often called, by his customers, can remember grinding feed for a nickel a sack, now tripled in price and selling corn and oats for less than $1.00 per hundred weight. Little salt, mineral or vitamins were fed when he started in the mill and protein concentrate was added to only hog and chicken feed. Most feed came into the mill via railroad whereas trucks deliver most of it to the mill today. The mill was open six days a week from seven in the morning until six at night.

Mr. and Mrs. Vanderwyst moved into their new home in Granton two years ago after living on a small ten- acre farm on the edge of the village. The couple was in the broiler business for six years and raised over 4,000 broilers every ten weeks. They quit this business when the price squeeze caught up with them.

The Vanderwyst’s have five children, Norman of Granton; Ralph in service in Germany; Harry of Alpena, Michigan; Mrs. Dale (Darlene) Wernberg, Marshfield; and Mrs. Frank (Deanna) Shelly of Virginia Beach, Virginia. There are 11 grandchildren.

Vanderwyst served on the village board in Granton for two years during the era when sewers were installed. He is a past fireman and a member of the American Lutheran Church.

His eyesight is now failing and twice a week he goes to St. Joseph in Marshfield to be connected to the kidney dialysis machine for five hours. He spends his time at home listening to the radio and records for the blind.