Ben J. Vanden Heuvel

1930 - 2017

Ben Vanden Heuvel of 931 Pondview Court in Appleton, passed away in the early morning hours of Thursday, April 13, at Brewster Village in Appleton. Ben was aged 86 and died after a brief illness. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Priscilla (Swan) and three sons, Jon (Kathleen) Vanden Heuvel of New York City, Paul (Heather) Vanden Heuvel of Evanston, Illinois, and Peter (Danielle) Vanden Heuvel of Ponte Vedra. Florida, and five grandchildren, Benjamin, Greta, Henry, Joaquin and Rafael.

Ben was born in Little Chute on September 14, 1930. He was the middle sibling of seven: Harold, Roman, Jayne, Ben, Roger, Roland (Gus) and Noel. Of the seven, Roman in Minneapolis is the last living. Ben attended Saint John's High School in Little Chute, where he excelled in sports and was "tri-sport" captain of the football, basketball and boxing teams.

During the Korean War, Ben enlisted in the U.S Coast Guard and was based in Honolulu. Upon his honorable discharge, he attended St. Norbert College in De Pere and graduated with a business administration degree in 1958. Ben spent his entire professional career with Appleton Mills (now Voith) in Appleton, retiring as Vice President of Sales. He was respected and loved by colleagues in the paper industry around the country and received numerous awards, including the Thomas F Sheerin Community Service Award given by the Paper Industry Management Assoc.

He was an active parishioner and usher at St Pius X Catholic Church in Appleton; served on the Xavier High School Board of Education; was a volunteer basketball coach at the Appleton YMCA. He was also a member of the Little Chute American Legion Post #258.

Ben was a founding member of Fox Valley Golf Club and remained an avid golfer into his mid-80s. He enjoyed yearly golf outings with his three sons. Ben also liked boating and fishing and spending time at his lake house in northern Wisconsin. He took many vacations to Europe and was fascinated by the history and culture there. He was a fine chef and took pride in preparing his specialties for family and friends. He was a competitive cribbage player. Above all, he was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He was much loved in life and will be dearly missed.

There will be a visitation at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 500 West Marquette Street in Appleton, on Tuesday, April 18, from 10am to 12 noon. Funeral Mass will take place at 12 noon with Father Willie Van De Loo, a High School classmate and friend of Ben's, officiating. Full military honors performed by Little Chute American Legion Post #258 will immediately follow.

Memorials in Ben's name may be directed to The Haiti Fund at St. Mary's Parish in Phelps, WI.