Arthur Peter Vande Hey

Arthur Peter “Art” Vande Hey, age 90, died peacefully, surrounded by his loving family, on Wednesday, September 6, 2023. On October 22, 1932, in the middle of the Great Depression, Art was born at the homestead of Peter and Odelia (Meulemans) Vande Hey joining a family of three brothers and three sisters. Four years later, a fourth sister was born. At five years old, Art started first grade at St. Francis School in Hollandtown. He continued there through his sophomore year of high school. He then attended Kaukauna High School, graduating with the class of 1950. After High School, when he was 17 years old, Art took over his father’s milk route, picking up milk cans from farmers and delivering them to White Clover Dairy in Hollandtown, now known as Arla Foods. In October 1954, Art entered the Army, serving two years of which 18 months were on a tour in Germany.                                                                                                                         

The big event was on October 15, 1959 when Art married Therese Ann “Tess” Bruecker from Dundas, Wisconsin. Between 1961 to 1966, they were blessed with three sons and a daughter. In 1963, Art sold the milk route and started driving trucks for Brooks Oil, delivering gas and fuel oil to farmers and homes. In 1965, he also began to operate the family homestead dairy farm which he did until 1979. In 1980, he earned his supplemental insurance license with AFLAC. He retired from Brooks Oil in 1994 after 31 years.

During these years, Art served as President of the Hollandtown Athletic Association and President of the Hollandtown Fire Department with which he served as a volunteer for 43 years. He was President of the St. Francis Parish Council and served one year on the St. Katharine Drexel Parish Council. He was also a member of the St. Francis Cemetery board, the Vice President of Catholic Financial, Hollandtown Chapter, and Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Community Benefit Tree.  Art was a founding member of the St. Francis Men's Choir, and the last to pass.  He enjoyed singing for over 65 years.

Art and Tess coached Junior Bowling at Van Abel's in Hollandtown from 1975 to 1985. Art also worked there as a pin setter, kitchen helper, and bartender. After retiring, Art and Tess did extensive traveling by car to all 49 continental states including Alaska, Canada, and Nova Scotia. They traveled by plane to Hawaii, Maui, Kauai, Molokai, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Demark, Germany, France, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, and Holland where they visited the birthplace of Art’s grandfather and great-grandfather. He also traveled to Spain while working in the Army.

Art enjoyed hobby farming, family genealogy, biking and cross-country skiing with Tess, and bowling with the Van Abel’s bowling team which he did for more than 63 years. He was also a volunteer for St. Paul Nursing Home, the Salvation Army, St. Katharine Drexel Parish, and Community Benefit Tree.

Art is survived by his lovely wife Tess, their four children (and their children): Jeffrey Vande Hey of Mountain, Wisconsin, Karl Vande Hey and Jill Martin of Mesa, Arizona, Peter and Krista (Vande Hey) Morton of Chandler, Arizona (Bailey and Cooper), and Mark Vande Hey and Lona Ebert of Hollandtown, Wisconsin (Morgan of Knoxville, Tennessee), sibling, Grace Zwick, and brothers and sisters-in-law: Philip (Joyce) Bruecker, Jean Bruecker, Gordon and Dolores Diedrich.

In addition to his parents, Art was preceded in death by siblings: Gladys Tennessen, Father Robert, Earl, Sister Eugenia and Eugene F. "Geno" Vande Hey, brothers and sisters-in-law: Leroy Tennessen, Marv Zwick, Mary Ann Vande Hey, Skippy Vande Hey, Gerry Bruecker, Roman Bruecker, Leo Bruecker and special niece and nephew, Sheila Zwick, Robert Tennessen.

Art was a kind, cheerful, principled, and hard-working man who touched the lives of many people on his journey through life. His wealth of knowledge was invaluable. Art will be greatly missed by all who knew him.                                                                                                             

Funeral services will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 16, 2023, at St. Francis Catholic Church, 433 County Road CE, Hollandtown. Visitation will be at the church on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the Mass. Interment and Military honors will take place at St. Francis Cemetery following the Mass. In lieu of flowers, a memorial is being established. For online condolences, please visit www.verkuilenfh.com.

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