Lawrence Martin Vandervelde

1919 - 2015

Vandervelde, Lawrence Martin



Lawrence Martin Vandervelde, fondly known as "Vandy," passed away on Monday, July 6, 2015 in Markesan, WI. Patriarch of a large yet tight-knit family, he was 96, and had lived on or near Green Lake for most of his long life.

The son of Bert and Aimee Kellogg Vandervelde, Vandy was born in Milwaukee on June 22, 1919, and graduated from Ripon College with a triple major in physics, economics, and mathematics.

In 1943 Vandy married his life partner, Nancy Drew Barbour, who had caught his attention on a raft in Green Lake. It was love at first sight, and for the next 66 years, the two never spent more than a few days apart. Drafted in 1944, Vandy served in the Army Signal Corps in Dayton, Ohio. Following the war, the couple returned to Wisconsin, settling at Oakwood Point, on the shores of Vandy's beloved Green Lake, in 1952. Though a subsequent move would take them to a farm "up the hill," and though many of his winters were spent in the warmth of Naples, Fla., he never lost touch with Oakwood Point.

At the outset of his career, Vandy worked as an engineer at the pioneering firm of Kiekhaefer Aeromarine Motors (now Mercury Marine) in Fond du Lac. The bulk of his professional life, however, was spent at the National Rivet and Manufacturing Co., in Waupun, as its chief engineer.

Passionate about the water, Vandy raced sailboats on Green Lake until his mid-80's, amassing a formidable collection of trophies. He served as commodore of the Green Lake Yacht Club (1949-50) and was a judge for the Senior Girls' Prams. In his long and rewarding retirement—he stopped "working" at 55—Vandy cultivated a wide array of interests, artistic and other. He wrote poetry, painted (often with nautical subjects), and improvised on the organ; he also wrote software for a succession of home computers, beginning with the earliest models, and, not least, was a highly competitive bridge player.

Vandy was not without quirks—he refused to fly in an airplane—and held strong opinions about nearly everything. But he also possessed exceptional humor and charm. His family will remember him especially for the unwavering devotion and unconditional love he showed them all, and for his own bravery in the face of adversity.

Vandy is survived by three children: Susan Krueger, Peter (Nancy) Vandervelde, and Janika Vandervelde (Larry Fuchsberg); five grandchildren: Drew, Nick, and Marten Vandervelde, Tracy Radenz, and Amy Kobs, and four great-grandchildren: Jack and Sam Radenz, and Peter ("P.J.") and Alex Vandervelde. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Nancy, brother, Cuthbert and son-in-law, James Krueger.

Friends are invited to celebrate Vandy's life at a gathering on Oakwood Point (476 Greenway Avenue, Green Lake) on Sunday, August 9, 2015 from 11 am to 2 pm. Memorial gifts may be made to the Green Lake Sailing School, W1128, Scott Hill Road, Ripon, WI 54971.

Vandy's children wish to express their deep appreciation to Dr. Richard Gauthier, Kindred Hearts of Green Lake, Agnesian Hospice, and the Barrett House of Markesan for their assistance with his care in his last years.

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