Van Matre, Vance F.
September 15, 1937 - June 11, 2008
Mineral Point - Vance F. Van Matre, age 70, of Mineral Point, passed away on Wednesday, June 11, 2008 at a Madison hospital following heart surgery. He was born on September 15, 1937 in Madison, the eldest son of Russell and Norma (Blum) Van Matre. Vance was a life-long resident of Mineral Point and graduated from Mineral Point High School in 1956. On a cold and snowy November 7, 1959, he married Loa Whitford of Hollandale at the Bethel Church. Vance was a member for more than 50 years of the First United Methodist Church in Mineral Point, where he sat in the same front row pew every week and also served as an usher. He worked at Nelson Industries in Mineral Point for 42 ½ years and retired in September, 1999. After retirement, he enjoyed watching John Wayne movies, gathering for morning coffee and the local gossip during the week at either the Red Rooster or the Pit Stop in Mineral Point and at Good Times in Hollandale on Saturdays. He kept busy doing odd jobs, such as helping at Farmers Savings Bank, driving hearse for various funeral homes throughout Iowa County, mowing his yard and three neighbors yards on his riding lawn mower, all on the same day and never starting before noon to make sure the grass was dry. In the winter, he was the first to clear all the neighbor’s driveways after it snowed. He always had the cleanest cars in town and had a 1991 Ford pick-up with 17,000 miles that never touched a snow flake.
Vance is survived by his wife, Loa; his daughter, Cindy Van Matre, of Madison; his son-in-law, Rod Radtke (Mary Sue), of Mineral Point; his brothers, Gary (Ruth) Van Matre, of Delphi, Indiana and Bruce (Bev) Van Matre, of Belmont; his brothers-in-law, Art (Louise) Whitford and Bill Whitford, both of Hollandale and Jerry (Judi) Whitford, of Dodgeville; his aunt, Bonnie Ferrell, of Waldwick; his cousin, Donald (Kathy) Ferrell, of Waldwick; and many nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Brenda Radtke, in March, 1985, his parents, and his in-laws, Earl and Hazel Whitford.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 15, 2008 at the FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH in Mineral Point. Rev. Mary Anne Conklin will officiate. Burial will be held in Graceland Cemetery. Friends may call from 11:30 a.m. until time of services on Sunday at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church organ and window fund or the Mineral Point Rescue Squad.
The family wishes to express heartfelt thanks to the staffs at Upland Hills Health, St. Mary’s Hospital and the Mineral Point Rescue Squad.
