Dorothy Vande Berg

Dorothy Vande Berg, 96, a resident at Walnut Grove, Fond du Lac, Wis. passed away on Monday, July 23, 2012, at St. Agnes Hospital, surrounded by her loved ones.

She was born in Murray, Wis., on Jan. 28, 1916, the daughter of George and Wilhelmena Kirmse Pluntz of Solon Springs.

On June 26, 1935, she married Alfred Tennier in Bennett. They lived in South Superior for the first 17 years of marriage and later moved to Campbellsport, Wis, in 1953. They shared 40 wonderful, glorious years together and then the love of her life was taken from her when her husband died of cancer in 1975.

She held the position of assistant cook at Campbellsport High School for 12 years and also worked as a caregiver at St. Joseph's Convent.

She later met and married Germaine "Jim" Vande Berg of Fond du Lac, Wis. and they sold their homes, purchased an RV and set off to visit the United States for a year, experiencing many wonderful adventures and meeting new people. They soon settled in Port Charlotte, Fla. for four years and eventually moved back to Wisconsin to be close to family and friends.

Dorothy loved the outdoors, walking, hiking, canoeing, and camping. She was an avid reader, gardener, and also loved to travel, visiting almost every state in the Union, as well as many parts of Canada. She loved adventure and never tired of exploring and wanting to know what was, "just over the hill or around the next corner". Dorothy was an excellent cook as well, and won several awards for her famous lemon meringue pie. She also loved music and sang and played guitar in a band when she was younger. She also had a great competitive nature and enjoyed playing cards and board games. She was a former member of Memorial Baptist Church and a member of Grace Reformed church at the time of her death. She loved the Lord and Psalm 104-105 was one of her favorite verses which spoke of things of nature. She was a sweet, loving person and a joy to know and will be missed by many.

Survivors include her husband Jim; son, Dennis (Arlene) Tennier of West Bend, Wis.; daughter, Judi Tennier of Fond du Lac, Wis.; step-son, Ernest (Jill) Vande Berg of Fond du Lac, Wis.; and three step-daughters, Marge (Dick) Launders of Fond du Lac, Wis., Judy (John) Marsden of Lomira, Wis., Andrea Vande Berg of Melbourne, Fla,; and stepdaughter-in-law, Lauri Vanden Berg of Cedarburg, Wis.

Also surviving Dorothy are four grandchildren, Wendi Scheid Tennier of Elkhorn, Wis., Tammy (Richard) Scheid Goetz of Singapore, Michael (Kim) Tennier of Pardeeville, Wis., and Mark (Ann) Tennier of West Bend, Wis.; eight step-grandchildren: Douglas (Cindy) of Christmas, Fla., Dave (Kara) of Fond du Lac, Wis., Scott (Cindy) of De Pere, Wis., Chad (Claire) of San Diego, Calif., Joel (Betsy) of Juneau, Wis., John (Lindsey) of Juneau, Wis., Aaron (Shelly) of Wrightstown, Wis., and Denise (Tim) of Oakfield, Wis.

Dorothy also had eight great-grand children, Deanna Krenn Swonger of Lake Geneva, Wis., Tori and Brie Goetz of Singapore, Benjamin, Rachel, Emily, and Estella Tennier of Pardeeville, Wis., and Louis Tennier of West Bend, Wis.; and two great-great-grandchildren, Elliot and Chloe Swonger of Lake Geneva, Wis. Also remaining are 16 step-great-grandchildren, and many nephews and nieces who loved her dearly.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Alfred Tennier; four sisters, Grace Alger, Beulah Maki, Gladys Thurstin, and Vera Springsteen; brother, Titus Pluntz; grandson, Deno Scheid; and stepson, Gary Vanden Berg.

Visitation will be from 4 p.m. until the funeral service at 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 26, at Grace Reformed Church, 163 18th Street, Fond du Lac, Wis. A short burial service for immediate family will be conducted at Evergreen Cemetery, Solon Springs, the following day.

Mach Funeral Chapel & Crematory is serving the family. A guest register can be found at www.machfuneralchapel.com.

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