Gary Lynn Vande Berg

Gary Lynn Vande Berg, age 64 of Fox Lake, passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 25, 2014.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 28 from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 110 Edgelawn Drive in Fox Lake, WI.

The Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, May 29, at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Fox Lake. The burial will be at 1:30 PM at the Highland Memorial Gardens in the Township of Trenton, WI, on Highway 151 between Beaver Dam and Waupun.

Gary was born on June 3, 1949, in Beaver Dam, WI. He grew up in Fox Lake, WI, and graduated from Waupun High School. He earned an Associate Degree in Mechanical Design from Morraine Park Technical College in Fond du Lac, WI. In addition, Gary took extensive plastics courses and other related manufacturing classes at UW Madison, UW Milwaukee, and UW Platteville. He spent his early professional career working as an engineer for Sundstrand Aviation, Mirro Corporation, and the West Bend Company where he developed patents for a quick drip coffeemaker and the Stir Crazy popcorn maker.

Gary worked for Bemis Manufacturing in Sheboygan Falls, WI, for 34 years and held the position of Vice President of Engineering for the Advanced Technology Group. Gary felt his greatest accomplishment at Bemis was creating jobs through the design, development, and introduction of new products and processes. He was particularly excited and energized about his latest project, the new shopping cart division. These innovative carts, with over 20 patents, will be introduced to the public in the near future.

Gary enjoyed many hobbies and activities throughout his life. He enjoyed growing flowers and creating artful displays. He collected and restored International Harvester (IH) antique tractors and toy tractors. He customized toy tractors to customers’ wishes and also collected and built scale model construction equipment and cranes. Gary loved to take road trips in his yellow Corvette, yellow Pontiac Solstice, and on his Honda Goldwing motorcycle. He sang in his church choir, quartets, and a men’s choir. Gary skied blue and black diamond slopes in Colorado with colleagues and friends. In addition, he participated in local theaters as an actor and stage director.

Gary was a member of the Society of Plastic Engineers, served on the Board of Directors for the IH Collector’s Club of WI, was a volunteer firefighter for Fox Lake, WI, was a long-time member of the Dodge County Antique Power Club, and was a life-long member of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Fox Lake.

He is survived by his wife, Margie Anunson; mother, Hazel (Witthun) Vande Berg; sister, Lynda (Vande Berg) Gehler; brother Kenneth Vande Berg; aunts Millie Vande Zande and Frances Reil; and nephew, Matthew Gehler. He is further survived by step-daughter Nicole (Joe) Wolfe, step-sons Greg (Shilpa) Rasmussen and Mark (Kristin) Anunson; and step-grandchildren Kyra and Krista Wolfe and Laxmi Rasmussen. He was preceded in death by his father, Christopher Vande Berg; and uncle, Erwin Vande Zande, who was a second father to him and influenced his thoughts and values.