Duane J. Vanden Broek

Duane J. Vanden Broek, age 67, passed away peacefully on Wednesday evening, August 10, 2005 with his family members by his side at the Appleton Medical Center, following a long history of heart disease. He was born in Kaukauna on September 13, 1937 to the late Joseph Vanden Broek and Cecelia (Rohr) Vanden Broek – Abel. Duane was a 1955 graduate of the Kaukauna High School, and was able to recently attend his 50th class reunion. He met the love of his life, Barbara Eichinger of Appleton at the Schuler Shack in Combined Locks in the fall of 1957. The couple married November 8, 1958, and resided in Combined Locks for over forty-five years, and raised four children. For thirty-eight years he was employed by Thilmany Pulp and Paper in Kaukauna, retiring as a pipe fitter in April of 1994.

Duane loved spending time with and helping out his family and friends. He was always one to be puttering, and he took great pride in maintaining his yard. For many years, Brooker enjoyed playing softball, bowling, hunting, and fishing with his buddies from Beaulieu Hill and the old Joyce and Tuggy’s Bar in Kaukauna. He loved spending weekends at Baumgart’s cottage on Lake Poygan and at the cabin with his buddies in Pembine. He was an avid Packer fan and enjoyed watching the old western movies on television, especially the reruns of Bonanza and Gunsmoke. Duane always looked forward to his many walks with his favorite granddog, “Mr. Dylan”.

Survivors include his wife and companion of forty-seven years: Barbara Vanden Broek of Combined Locks; four children: Julie Stein of Combined Locks; Wendy (Jack) Allensworth of St. Louis, Missouri; Joseph (Sharon) Vanden Broek of Little Chute and their children Robert, Jesse, and Mariah Vogt; and Bruce (Michelle) Vanden Broek of Stratford, Connecticut and their children Courtney, Madison, and Jake. He is further survived by three sisters: Joann (Ken) Robel of Kaukauna, Darlene (Bob) Lipske of Lake Mills, and Bonnie (Bob) Metz of Neenah; a half-brother: Scott (DeAnn) Abel of Richfield, Wisconsin. Also surviving are Barb’s siblings: Rosemary (Glenn) Huss of Freedom, Mary Eichinger of Lakewood, Richard “Dick” Eichinger of Combined Locks, Henry “Ike” Eichinger of Combined Locks, Kathleen “Kitty” Wyman of Appleton, Dorothy (Jim) McCormick of Darboy, and James “Frankie” (Joyce) Eichinger of Combined Locks, and many nieces and nephews. Duane was preceded in death by a son-in-law Edward Stein, brothers-in-law Marve Wyman and John Eichinger, his step-father Lawrence Abel, and his father and mother-in-law Ignatius and Mary (Thurner) Eichinger.

Funeral services for Duane will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, August 13, 2005 at the funeral home chapel with Fr. Jim Lucas of St. Paul Catholic Church in Combined Locks officiating. Interment will be in St. Paul Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home on Saturday from 9:00 AM until the hour of the service. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund is being established.

Duane’s family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the staff at Appleton Medical Center, especially to ICU, 2-South, and to Chaplain Nolan Gnewuch for the wonderful support and care we received.