Melvin Henry Van Den Berg

Melvin “Mel” Van Den Berg, 92 passed away peacefully August 3, 2025. He was born May 3rd, 1933 to Melvin Sr. & Ella Van Den Berg, he was the oldest of three.

He married Louella Page on May 10th 1951, they were married almost 74 years before Lou passed away in March of this year.  They had 10 children, five of whom have preceded him in death, those include Dick (Melvin Richard), Nadine, Daniel, Joseph and Todd.  Also preceding him in death is one grandson, Chad Allen Van Den Berg II.

Survivors are his children including Nannette (John) Greenwood, Noreen Van Den Berg, Chad Van Den Berg, Toby Van Den Berg and Nada Van Den Berg as well as many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  He had a very special rapport with his grandson Jason Greenwood.  Survivors also include his brother Robert (Bonnie) Van Den Berg and sister Patricia (Dave) Helf.

Mel lived life to the fullest, working for most of his life, retirement was not his thing.  Working since age 12, he started out working for a farmer.  He set bowling pins for 2 years.  He worked for various paper mills, also for Kohler and Miller Electric.  He drove semi trucks, worked about 35 years in construction with the Carpenter’s Union, owned and managed a convenience store in Bowler, and delivered trucks for Monroe and Kenworth, those were just some of his jobs over the years.  He spent over 25 years working for Kenworth, the guys he worked with became his friends.  Working was his social life.  He was a big Packers and Brewers fan, watched many games with his wife Lou before her passing, also with his cousin John Van Den Berg until John’s passing in 2022.  John and Mel grew up together, John was his “other brother from another mother.”  Mel loved to laugh.  He will truly be missed by many.

A memorial service for Mel will be held on Saturday August 16, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at the Verkuilen-Van Deurzen Family Funeral Home, N3972 Columbia Ave, Freedom. A time of visitation will be held on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service at the funeral home.

A special thank you to all the medical staff who took care of him over the years, especially “Dr. Sasse” as he called her, the staff who took care of him in his final days at Bellin, and the Unity Hospice staff.