Kenneth Rodney Vandertie

It is with heavy hearts that the family of Kenneth Rodney Vandertie announce his passing, on Thursday, August 29, 2024 at the age of 86, at home in Green Bay, WI. We find comfort in knowing that he died peacefully of natural causes, while drinking coffee and watching TV in his favorite chair. 

Ken was born February 12, 1938 to Mathilda A (nee: Lardinois) and Charles A Vandertie, III in Green Bay, Wisconsin. 

Sometime after his parents' divorce, he moved to the homestead of his Grandparent's, John & Ida [nee Rouer] Lardinois, on County C in Brussels, WI. He spoke admirably about his Grandma Ida and being raised with his aunts and uncles. It is during this time he became especially close to his Uncle Donnie (Donald) and considered him his brother. Ken was proud of his Belgian heritage, earning him the nickname, "Belgie" which he used as his CB handle.

Ken attended school in Brussels and later at Sturgeon Bay High School. 

After leaving high school, he enlisted in the US Army on Jan 17, 1958 and was stationed at Fort Bragg, NC. In May 1958, he graduated from the US Army Southeastern Signal School in Fort Gordon, GA. He also attained expert rifleman. This prepared him for his installation in June 1958 as Radio Relay and Carrier Operation at Cambai Fritsch Kaserne in Darmstadt, Germany. He left there in May 1960, returning as Pfc E3 to Ft Bragg NC. Ken was honorably discharged from active duty on January 16, 1961 with subsequent honorable discharge on December 31, 1963 from inactive reserves.

In the Spring of 1961, Sue was attending Door-Kewaunee Teachers College. Students were not allowed to stay in the dorms during the weekends, so two of Sue's classmates invited her to spend the weekend with them, where they were attending a shower. As fate had it, Ken was attending this party with his buddy Roger, who wished for Ken to meet the three ladies. Before Roger had an opportunity to introduce the ladies, Ken said to Roger, "see that girl in the middle? I'm going to marry her". While his intentions were clear, his quest was not as easy. He forgot Sue's phone number, however had a general idea of where she lived. He arrived on University Ave to look for her, and found himself at the wrong house. As his luck would have it, he was at the home of her aunt and uncle's house (Joe & Margurite Cygan), speaking to her cousin Jim, who promptly directed Ken to her house. He was not wrong, he married Susan Ann Frisque on June 9, 1962 at SS Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Ken was employed by Fort Howard Paper Company, leaving there to attain a Certificate of Apprenticeship as a Lather from NWTC in 1972. He worked for Bay Lathing from 1970-1973, becoming a member of the Green Bay Lather’s Local 388. 

With this experience, he became self-employed (Vandertie Drywall) and was an active member of the Brown County Home Builder’s Association. When the housing market crashed in the early 1980’s, he joined the Carpenter’s Union and held employment with various companies until sustaining a career-ending injury in 1989. 

He then spent his time being "Grandpa" while helping to care for his grandson, Andy while Ann was working. Andy shares a fond memory of this time. While playing with his toys, on the floor in front of the fire, Grandpa would read the newspaper, to a young child, "there was something magical about how he folded and unfolded the newspaper".

Ken and Sue purchased their Winter residence in Tucson, AZ in January 2004 and enjoyed their first snowbird experience in December 2004, after Sue’s retirement in August 2004. They have since enjoyed every Winter “down south”, where they have met many wonderful other snowbirds, which they now consider friends. Ken and Sue became members of the Elk’s Club while there.

Ken was as lifelong fisherman, mainly on the Bay of Green Bay or Lake Michigan, but really anywhere he could drop a line. He attributed much of his knowledge and love of fishing to his late Father-in-law, Thurm Frisque. After retirement, he picked up an interest in making lead weights. Those weights found themselves around the Midwest, with several making their way to Miami, Florida. This hobby gained him the nickname amongst fisherman as the "Leadman".

As a young adult and alongside his paternal uncles, Ken would attend camp, sit and watch the deer walk by.

Ken was on the Board of Directors for the Green Bay Blue Ribbons semi-pro baseball team, from approximately 1971-1976, during the time his brother-in-law Jerry was a pitcher. Together with Sue, he managing the food concessions at the old Joannes Stadium and met lifelong friends.

Ann and Kathy share memories of joining him, as little girls at Vandertie Cold Storage where he and his paternal uncles could be found playing cards. He was a very good card player and took it seriously. He once grabbed his Uncle Tuffy (Adolph) by the ankles and shook the change out from his pockets as Uncle Tuffy "refused" to buy sodas when he lost the card game.

 His Veteran buddies in Tucson, Arizona kept him busy for hours, often playing at the VFW and getting kicked out at closing time.

 He could be found at the kitchen table playing good game of solitaire, often interrupted by either of the cats, Mango or Poppy, even as recent as an hour before his passing. 

Ann and Kathy have memories of the vegetable garden, half the size of the back yard, which he planned for, roto-tilled, planted and maintained for years. Assuredly, he learned this from his father Chuck, who also maintained a vegetable garden of equal size. He often shared his produce with family, friends, and neighbors.

Ken was an accomplished bowler, having earned the headlines “Vandertie Crashes 706 Honor Count (GBPG 2/27/1970) and “Vandertie Socks 724 National Honor Count” (GBPG 3/3/1971). He rolled three lifetime high series of 706, 706, and 724, at a time when that was not a common occurrence. Additionally, he earned several GB WBA 500 Club patches, to go along with his 700 series patches. Occasionally, he could be found bartending at Century Lanes in DePere.

He took up golfing and played in a couple’s league at Hilly Haven with Sue, passing along his knowledge of the game to his girls.

As a member of the Concerned Hearts Club, Ken could be found with Sue at his side, manning the visitors desk outside of the Intensive Care Unit at Bellin Health.

In his later years as he slowed down, he enjoyed watching NASCAR but more importantly he could be found at the local dirt track, whether in Northeast Wisconsin or Tucson Arizona area, supporting his favorite drivers. He was known around the dirt tracks as the "Cheesehead", which he was quite proud of. He was tickled pink that he met Tyler Reddick as a late-model dirt track racer and followed his career into NASCAR.

Ken is survived by his wife of 62 years, Susan Ann [nee Frisque] Vandertie and two daughters and sons-in law Ann M Vandertie (Chris Christensen) and Kathryn M [nee Vandertie] Wautlet (Daniel). In addition, he is survived by his grandchildren Andrew S Rank and Bailee A (nee Wautlet) Herwald (Jacob), along with his great-grandchildren Van A Rank and Lakeyn J Herwald.

He is further survived by his brothers and sisters in law and their children/spouses: Tony & Joyce Frisque (Gary/Ellen, Jill/Jeff), Trudy & Ron (Jake) Jacobson (Doug/Olivia, Eric/Jenna), and Jerry Frisque (Ryan, Laura/David), Uncle John Lardinois and Aunt Diane (Alvin) Counard, and Godson Phil Lardinois.

Ken is preceded in death by his parents Charles A Vandertie, III, and Mathilda A (nee: Lardinois) & Daniel Patton; brother-in heart Donald Lardinois; in-laws Thurman Frisque, and Phyllis (nee Kimball) Neville; nephew Rob Frisque; numerous aunts and uncles.

If not found fishing in his after-life, we're convinced you'll find him playing cards and serving up coffee to family and friends.

The family recognizes the sacrifices made by our armed forces and we thank Ken for his time spent defending our freedoms. We will honor Ken with a well-deserved Military service. Visitation at Malcore Funeral Home, 701 N Baird St, Monday, September 9, from 3 PM until the time of the funeral service at 7 PM. Entombment at Allouez Catholic Mausoleum.