Al Vreeland

Al Vreeland, 68, of Ishpeming, Mich. and Superior, Wis, passed away peacefully Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012, in the company of his family.

He was born May 24, 1943 in Rice Lake, Wis, and graduated from Rice Lake High School in 1961. He was married to Gloria Severson in August 1965.

Al raced stock cars in Rice Lake and served in the Wisconsin National Guard. In 1967 he and his wife moved to Superior, where they owned and operated Al's IGA for many years. For the past seven years, Al engineered his own locomotive (Vreeland Rail) in Ishpeming, Mich. and worked for Pepin-Ireco.

He enjoyed spending time with family and friends, carpentry, woodworking, gardening, traveling, the Packers, NASCAR and playing cribbage. Al is remembered as a loving family man who was always willing to use his various talents to help others. He helped with the building of Christ Lutheran Church as well as with their pasty bakes and making his Cajun wild rice crab soup and crafts for their bazaars

In addition to his wife of 46 years, Al is survived by his son Greg (Mardell) Vreeland, Spooner, Wis, daughter Pam Vreeland, Alvin, Texas, son Jason (Wendy) Vreeland, Nashua, N.H., and daughter Jodi (Daniel) Slick, Superior; grandchildren Brandon, Carrie, Jordan, Ryan, Peyton, Colton and Alexander; mother Adeline Vreeland and brother Scott (Evelyn) Vreeland, Rice Lake; nephew Nick (Jessie) Vreeland, Arena, Wis.; and good friends Jeff Quinnell and Burt Toy of Ishpeming.

Al was preceded in death by this father Ernest Vreeland and his black lab Maggie.

Visitation is 11:30 a.m. until the 1 p.m. celebration of life service Saturday, Jan. 28 at Christ Lutheran Church, 320 N. 28th St., Superior. Inurnment will be at a later date at New Scandinavia Lutheran Church, Dallas, Wis.

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