Sylvester Vanevenhoven, Jr.

Sylvester William Vanevenhoven, Jr. - "Bud" - Age 88, died peacefully on Oct. 28, 2024, at Theda Care Regional Medical Center, Appleton, with his family at his side. He was born in Appleton on May 19, 1936, the oldest of five children to Sylvester Sr. and Rita (Hartzheim) Vanevenhoven. Bud graduated from Kaukauna High School in 1955 after which he served in the Army for four years. On Sept. 27, 1958, Bud married his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Margaret Ann (Mickey) Mangold, which continued happily for the next 66 years. Following the Army, Bud received an associate degree and started Van’s Refrigeration which he ran for 35 years, while at the same time working at Thilmany Paper mill for 44 years until his retirement in 1999. Bud loved to dance; he and Mickey were founding members of the Kaukauna Cabaret Club and belonged to the Combined Locks Square Dancing group for years. He was a member of the St. Aloysius School Board, actively involved with the Boy Scouts in Kaukauna, and volunteered with Mickey for Meals on Wheels. He loved camping with family and friends, hunting, fishing, and boating. Everyone who knew Bud knew how much he loved building and flying remote-controlled airplanes, which started when he built his first plane from scratch in high school. Bud was a longstanding member of the Calumet Flyers, Inc., a remote-controlled flying club with their own mini airport in Hilbert. Bud also was an avid woodworker, building airplanes and then later in life building bird houses and feeders for his family and friends, feeding thousands of birds throughout Wisconsin, Arizona, and Virginia. He was very handy and would tackle any project that required building or fixing something. Bud genuinely loved and enjoyed his family, including his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and most importantly to him, his wife, Mickey. He is survived by his wife: Mickey; his three children: Ann (Tim) Short, Beth (Joe) Van Dyn Hoven, and Jay (fiancé Marria Ritucci); grandchildren/step-grandchildren: Tony (Christine) Van Dyn Hoven, Tina (Paul) Feaster, Tyler Van Dyn Hoven, John (Cathy) Short, Mike (Sara) Short, and Sarah (Ross) Laurent; great-grandchildren: Brysen and Braylynn Van Dyn Hoven, Maverick and Xander Feaster, and Ted, Sydney, Charlotte and Henry Short; and siblings: Pete (Mary) Vanevenhoven, Dave Vanevenhoven, and Diane Thon. In addition to his parents, Bud was preceded in death by his brother: Ron Vanevenhoven, and sisters- and brothers-in-law: Margarita Vanevenhoven, Ramona Driessen, James Driessen, Don Mangold, Peg Mangold, and Caroline Mangold. A visitation for Bud will be held at Verkuilen/Van Deurzen Funeral Home in Kaukauna on Saturday, Nov. 9, from 1-3 p.m., with a short prayer service to follow. In lieu of flowers, a memorial will be established in Bud’s name. For online condolences, please visit www.verkuilenfh.com. The family would like to thank the nurses and staff, along with the Hospice Care team at Theda Care Regional Medical Center, Appleton for their kindness and support.

VERKUILEN-VAN DEURZEN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 2401 Fieldcrest Drive, Kaukauna, WI 54130, 920-766-2099, www.verkuilenfh.com