William L. “Bill” Vruwink Sr.
William L. “Bill” Vruwink Sr., 88, Auburndale, died peacefully at home with his loving family at his bedside on Saturday, July 29, 2017.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday, August 1, 2017 at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, Milladore, where the visitation will be from 9:00 am until service time. Rev. John Ofori-Domah will officiate. Burial will take place in Fairview Cemetery in the Town of Sherry, Wood County and serving as pallbearers will be grandsons Scott Brock, Craig Becker, Jared Becker, Taylor Vavrina, Cody Vruwink and Calvin Vruwink.
Bill was born at home on the family farm on September 7, 1928 to Ira and Florence (Ver Cruse) Vruwink. He attended Green Elm Elementary School in Arpin. During his high school years, he moved to Spring Valley to work at his uncle’s cheese factory and graduated from Spring Valley High School. After high school, Bill returned to the area to help out on the family farm. It was then that he met his future wife Joan Richardson at Sherriland Ballroom. They were married on May 20, 1952 at St. Killian’s Catholic Church in Blenker. A year later Bill and Joan purchased a farm just outside of Arpin, where they farmed for 20 years. In 1973 they sold the farm and moved to Sherry. Bill then worked in the construction field for four years. He then worked at Georgia Pacific in Nekoosa for 11 years, retiring at the age of 62.
In his early years Bill was a Farmer’s Home Administration Board member, Town of Arpin Board member and after retirement was a groundskeeper for the Sherry Cemetery and was the Town of Sherry Recycling Center Administrator. Bill was an avid Packer and Brewer fan his entire life. In his younger years, he enjoyed bowling and belonged to a bowling league. He also enjoyed playing sheepshead, and he and Joan belonged to a monthly card club.
Bill is survived by his wife of 65 years, Joan, and their children, Susan (Tom) Chichoski of Winona, MN, Bonnie (Jim) Vavrina of Wisconsin Rapids, June (Rich) Bulin of Auburndale, Jean (Richard) Becker of Milladore, Jerry Vruwink of Milladore, Gordon (Sharon) Vruwink of Auburndale and Bill Vruwink Jr. of Milladore. He is also survived by 16 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. He is further survived by brothers and sisters, Howard Vruwink of Wisconsin Rapids, Ira “Bud” Vruwink of Vesper, Jim Vruwink of Milladore, and Shirley Mertes, Carol (Tom) Hanneman, and Marjorie Schenk, all of Wisconsin Rapids.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Donald, Edward and Lewis Vruwink.
The family would like to thank Ministry Home Health Care Services and Ascension Hospice Care for the kind and attentive care they provided for our father.
Condolences may be sent online to www.rembsfh.com
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