Peter M. Vandehey

Peter “Pete” M. Vandehey, Kimberly, age 74, died peacefully at home February 18, 2019 with his wife and children at his side. He was born January 23, 1945 in Appleton the son of the late Herman and Ethel (Verhagen) Vandehey. He graduated from Kimberly High School in 1963 and University of Wisconsin – Fox Valley in electro mechanical technology. Pete proudly served in the US Army Reserves from 1964-1970. He was married on February 3, 1968 to his loving wife Kathy in Kimberly where they lived and raised their family. He enjoyed spending time with all his kids and grandkids whether it was for Sunday dinner or a barbeque on the driveway, but especially loved the time spent on the water during fishing and camping trips.

Dad showed a fierce love for all of us. He made us laugh with his silliness and playful antics. He was always there for us even amidst his battles with serious illness. He was a patient teacher, sharing wisdom that will stay with us forever. Ben was his protégé and watched and learned how to take everything apart and put it back together again. He worked hard and played hard, he was the life of the party and was able to make people laugh and smile. Despite being the fierce protector of the family, he still made mom deal with any spider that dared enter the house.

Anyone who knew Pete, knew that he had a mischievous side from the time he was young. He’d get in trouble with the nuns at school, would play endless pranks on his sisters, would throw out an annual cherry bomb and would whistle and belly bump at family weddings. He never wanted the party to end. He liked his beer, burgers and his chili. And he especially liked his ice cream. He loved the Packers and rumor has it he helped tear down the goal post at the Ice Bowl.
We will miss you dearly dad. He was also blessed with an earth angel, our mom, who lovingly cared for him 24/7 for many years. Dad’s love for mom set an example for us all.

Survivors include his wife, Kathy; four children: Amy (Chad) Leverson, Lisa (Jeff) Geiger, Jennifer (Brandon) Landro, and Ben Vandehey (Heather Wingert). He has seven grandchildren: Justen (Kelsey) Geiger, Alexus Doering, Jordan Geiger, Payton Blasewitz, Jacob Doering, Mayah Blasewitz and Mason Landro. He is also survived by six siblings, Tom (Jean) Vandehey, Joan (Cliff) Sanderfoot, Diane (Al) Nienhaus, Joyce Williams (Dick Lardinois), Susan (Larry) Navarrete, and Lois (Loren) Rohloff; as well as a sister-in-law: Pat Vandehey. Pete was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Jim Vandehey.
The family would like to thank Jerry Geenen, Keith Van Asten and Mark Vandehey for the many years of unwavering friendship. Oh, the conversations they had while in the fishing boat or at the picnic table!

Special thanks go out to Dr. Lisa Kokontis and Dr. Douglas Moard, for their years of kind and compassionate care.

Friends and family are invited to a memorial service to be held at Jansen Fargo Funeral Home, located at 204 E Kimberly Avenue in Kimberly on Friday, February 22. We will gather at 2:00 PM and the service will begin at 4:00 PM.