Dick Vanden Wymelenberg

Richard (Dick) Vanden Wymelenberg, age 94, of Wrightstown, entered eternal life on October 8, 2023. The son of the late Elzear and Martha Vanden Wymelenberg was born July 24, 1929. Dick attended St. Paul Parochial School and graduated from Wrightstown High School. He served his country for two years in the U.S. Army Infantry as a Rifleman and was in Korea for 6 months in 1952. On June 2, 1953, Dick married Bonnie Brittnacher at St. Paul Catholic Church in Wrightstown. For many years Dick owned and operated Dick’s Family Foods as a third-generation grocer in Wrightstown, where he taught his children his strong business ethics. A man of great faith, Dick was involved in many offices and duties at St. Paul Catholic Church (St. Clare Parish) and a regular attendee of Bible study on Monday mornings. Dick loved anything that was fun! Some of those hobbies included: hunting, fishing, camping, sledding, skiing, playing backyard football and baseball with his kids. His children have many fond memories of time spent together on Sundays, the only day that Dick took off from the store during each week. He was also a member of the Wrightstown Fire Department and a strong community advocate, spearheading many initiatives through the years to improve the Wrightstown Community.

Dick is survived by his wife, Bonnie; children: Mike (Nancy) Vanden Wymelenberg, Paula (Mike) Weyers, Mary Ann (Dave) Ozarowicz, Karen (Brian) Prunty, Nancy (Dan) Mathieu, Rick (Mary) Vanden Wymelenberg, Pete (Mary Jo) Vanden Wymelenberg, Jamie (Jen) Vanden Wymelenberg, John (Ann) Vanden Wymelenberg, Michelle (Pete) Rentmeester; 32 grandchildren; 46 great-grandchildren; siblings: Fr. Marlyn Vanden Wymelenberg, Bernice Geurts, Carl (Marcia) Vanden Wymelenberg and Charlene (Sy) Geissen.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Martha and Elzear Vanden Wymelenberg; sibling: Donna (Vic) Pritzl; brother in laws; Vic Pritzl and Florent Geurts; father-in-law and mother-in-law: Joe (Rose) Brittnacher; Bonnie’s siblings: Ruth Brittnacher, Ernest (Mildred) Brittnacher, Norb (Marian) Brittnacher, Mary Helen (Jim) Heindel, Elaine (Bob) School and Leo Brittnacher.

Family and friends may visit at St. Clare Parish-St. Paul Site, Wrightstown, on Saturday, October 14, from 9:00am until 11:45am. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12:00pm with Fr. Brian Wideman officiating. Burial will be in St. Paul Cemetery at a later date.

The family respectfully requests flowers not be sent, but donations be made payable to Living Waters International and forwarded to the family.

Our family would like to thank the caregivers at Bellin Hospital in the ICU.

Thank you, Dad, for patiently teaching us your strong work ethics and Christian values. Your legacy will continue to live in each of us!