Vern Calbaum, age 70, of Princeton, passed away on Monday, July 9, 2018, at Martha’s Inc. after visiting with family and friends throughout the last few days of his life. He was born on December 16, 1947, in Milwaukee, WI, a son of Eldon and Beth (Ellison) Calbaum. Vern proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy from September 11, 1967, to August 12, 1971.
After serving actively in the U.S. Navy, he joined the Naval Reserves and continued his military service until his retirement in January of 1996. On November 25, 1967, he married Janice Pearson at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Princeton. Vern worked 4 years as a parts manager for Russ Darrow in Waukesha and then moved on to Montello where he worked as a parts manager for Bob Meyer Ford.
Changing his occupation, Vern joined his father and brother, Ron, working for Calbaum’s Dairy Equipment of Princeton. He then went on to work at Cliff’s Inc., out of Friesland, WI, working in dairy equipment sales. Vern was an active member of St. John’s Lutheran Church of Princeton, generously sharing his time and talent as a Lutheran Pioneer Leader for over 20 years, a church choir member for 34 years and also serving on the church council.
He was a member of the Princeton Lions Club and the Princeton VFW Post 10452 where he had been a former commander and treasurer. Vern liked the outdoors where he enjoyed camping and fishing. Vern is survived by his mother, Beth Calbaum of Berlin; his wife of 50 years, Janice Calbaum of Princeton; 4 children, Cheryl (Matt) Griffith of Neshkoro, Crystal (Kevin) Ponto of Berlin, Chad (Sidney) Calbaum of Aurora, CO, Cory Calbaum of Princeton; 6 grandchildren, Alexandrea (Justin) Bowey, Dakota (Emily) Calbaum, Kaitlyn Ponto, Dakota Griffith, Alyssa Ponto, MacKenna Ponto; 4 great grandchildren, Riley Bowey, Ryan Calbaum, Sawyer Bowey, Madison Calbaum; 5 siblings, Dianne McGovern of Muskegon, MI, Ron (Sherry) Calbaum of Princeton, Gail Ehrenberg of Fond du Lac, Gwen (Ken) Francis of Madison, Kevin (Candi) Calbaum of Neshkoro; Dontae Howard of Ripon who was like a grandson to Vern; many other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his father, Eldon Calbaum; nephew, Brian Calbaum. A funeral service for Vern Calbaum will be held on Saturday, July 14, 2018, at 1:30 p.m., with visitation beginning at 10:30 a.m., at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 226 S. Clinton St., in Princeton. Pastor John Stelter will officiate.
Vern will be laid to rest, with full military honors, following the service at Memory Hill Cemetery in Princeton. Memorials may be given to the American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association or to Mental Health of America-WI. Please visit our website www.
wachholzandsons.com to send a condolence or to share a memory of Vern with his family.
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