Obituary of Bruce Dale Van Natta

Bruce Dale Van Natta, age 91, formerly of Vesper, died peacefully on Monday, March 31, 2014, at Arborwood Lodge in Wisconsin Rapids. Services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, April 4, 2014, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Seneca Corners. Rev. Robert Buckman will officiate. Burial will follow at the parish cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 3, at Herman-Taylor Funeral Home, Wisconsin Rapids, and from 10:00 a.m. until time of services on Friday at the church. Bruce was born June 17, 1922, in Arpin, Wisconsin, to Milton and Mayme (Fritz) Van Natta. After high school he served his country during WW II with the United States Army in the European Theater where he was awarded the Silver Star. He married Carol Anderson on April 10, 1944, in Auburndale, Wisconsin. They were blessed with nearly 70 years of marriage and three children. His life-long passion for driving was fulfilled by a career as a truck driver, which included owning a fleet of semis that hauled Hamm's Beer and concluded delivering heavy trucks for V&H in Marshfield. He was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Seneca Corners, and the American Legion Post in Arpin. He enjoyed traveling, wintering in warm southern states and summer fishing trips to Canada. Bruce is survived by his wife Carol; children: Penny Wormet, Friendship, Douglas (Sheila) Van Natta and Sarah (Brent) Ferguson, Wisconsin Rapids; grandchildren: Pela (David) Steiner, Tim (Linda) Wormet, Amy (Dennis) Griese, Tadd (Kara Teske, fiancé) Wormet and Heath Follen; Bruce (Lori) Van Natta, Josh Van Natta, Stephanie Hause, Lucas (Carrie Eberhardt) Van Natta, Ethan Ksionek and Dillon Ksionek; many very special great and great-great grandchildren who were close to his heart; in-laws: Harold (Donna) Anderson, Wisconsin Rapids, Gail VanNatta, Wisconsin Rapids, and Earl Dorow, Phillips; and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, sisters: Marjorie Blatt, Betty Herr and Nancy Dorow, brothers: James, Daniel and Allen Van Natta, and son-in-law Bud Wormet. The family would like to thank the hospice workers, staff and friends at Arborwood for their exceptional care and concern for Bruce.