Dennis Lee Vedder

Dennis Vedder (87) born February 19, 1938, of Delafield, passed peacefully at AngelsGrace Hospice, Oconomowoc on August 13, 2025 surrounded by family. Born in Milwaukee to Katherine (nee Weisling) and Harold Vedder, Dennis graduated Shorewood High School (1956 aka Boots) and obtained a BS in marine biology from UW Milwaukee.

Dennis, known best for his quick wit and humor, was an avid golfer and fisherman and led a varied working life. He started out in his parent's Brown Deer grocery store, Colonial House, and as a valet at a Country Club. He shoveled stalls at a farm where he kept his horse, Chinco. While attending night school, Dennis was a Foreman at Roundy's (Teamsters Local 200). After graduation, he worked for Applied Biochemists, going on to co-found A&V Incorporated. After selling A&V, Dennis owned and operated Trout Haven Hatchery, Antigo, WI. In addition to live trout, he transported live fish in a semi truck from NE Minnesota to Chinatown in NYC. After selling the hatchery, Dennis got his appraisers license. For National Appraisal he served as assessor for several towns, routinely countering angry taxpayer reprisals with humor and impertinence. Upon retirement, when not traveling the world with his wife and friends, Dennis spent time volunteering for Wildlife In Need and Friends of the Delafield Library. He continued to crack jokes and make wry observations, eliciting laughter from visitors, EMTs during numerous ambulance rides, nurses, and hospice workers. Irreverent and waggish, he was mischievous to the end and will be missed.

Dennis is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Marjorie (nee Durkee); brothers-in-law Gerald Durkee and Richard Durkee; daughters Cathleen Ann of Elkhorn, WI, and Lisa Marie of Orlando, FL and Barbados W.I.; son-in-law Stevenson Elcock; granddaughters Amy Lynn Jones and Angela Marie (Tim) Kidwell, and grandson Joshua James Kieckhefer; great-grandchildren Kayla (Jay) Rice, Haylee, Phoebe, Garrett, Thorfinn, Briseis, and Arlo; and great-great-grandchildren Finn, June, and Wesley.

Visitation Monday August 25 at Wisconsin Memorial Park Chapel of the Chimes, 13235 W. Capitol Drive, Brookfield from 1:00 PM until the time of funeral service at 2:00 PM with military honors to follow.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, if desired, any donations in memory of Dennis be made to Bat Conservation International (www.batcon.org), or Wildlife In Need (www.helpingwildlife.org). For details see www.harderfuneralhome.com.