Henry L. 'Hank' Vandenberg

IRONWOOD, Mich. - Henry L. "Hank" Vandenberg, 82, of Ironwood, died peacefully Saturday, March 8, 2014, surrounded by his loving family, at Aspirus Grand View Hospital in Ironwood, following an extended illness.

He was born March 9, 1931, in Ironwood, son of the late Julius and Ruby (Kent) Vandenberg, attended St. Ambrose Grade School, and graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in 1949. Following graduation, he delivered milk for Tiny Gustafson at the Brookvale Dairy in Ironwood, and was employed at Osmose Preserving Co. in Bessemer, Proch Construction in Hurley, Wis., and in the Penokee Mine for 10 years. He then was employed as a forestry technician with the U.S. Forest Service for 30 years, retiring in 1991. In his retirement, he worked for Steiger Lumber Co. as a timber cruiser for several years.

Hank was a member of Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Ironwood and the former Holy Trinity Catholic Church. He bartended at Bingo's in Wakefield in his younger years and played cards there on Thursday nights in his later years. He was also a former member of the Range Beagle Club.

An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed hunting and making wood at his camp, and especially enjoyed spending time with his family and grandchildren at camp. He will be dearly missed.

On July 12, 1952, Hank was married to the former Adele V. Pertile at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hurley, by the late Monsignor Michael Prock.

Surviving are his wife, Adele, of 61 years; four daughters, Debra (Randy) Trudgeon, Quinnesec, Diane (Gary) Baron and Darlene (Michael) Begalle, both of Ironwood, and Donna (Dave Anderson), Wakefield; eight grandchildren, Matthew (Tina) Trudgeon, Two Rivers, Wis., Bryan Trudgeon (Lisa Hosking), Iron Mountain, Lauren (Cory) Roell, Channing, Christine (Bennett) Freedman, Edwards, Colo., Crystal Laabs (Jason Pelkola), Kimball, Wis., Danielle Begalle, Ironwood, and Nicholas Maki and Brycen Kitto, both of Wakefield; four great-grandchildren, Blake, Lucas and Brady Trudgeon and Tanner Pelkola; two sisters, Edith (Russell) Rundell and Karen (Robert) Smith, both of Ironwood; an uncle, Ernie Kent, Ironwood; sisters- and brothers-in-law, Margaret and Don Lonsway and Anton and Antoinette Pertile, all of Ironwood, Rosemary and Gary Eskola, Kimball, and Bob Pertile, Bessemer; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Besides his parents, Hank was preceded in death by an infant son, Eugene Leo, in 1954; son-in-law, Earl Maki, Oct. 5, 2013; sister-in-law, Mary Pertile; and brother-in-law, Bill Pertile, in 2013.

Out of respect for Hank's wishes, cremation has taken place.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, March 13, at 11 a.m., preceded by visitation in the St. Joseph Family Room at 10 a.m., at Our Lady of Peace Church in Ironwood, with the Rev. Robb Jurkovich, celebrant.

Luncheon will follow in the parish hall.

Rite of Committal and interment will be in Riverside Cemetery, Ironwood, in the spring.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army.

Arrangements have been entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood, where condolences may be expressed online at mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.