Cletus Vondra

Cletus Vondra

March 14, 1936 - May 04, 2023

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Obituary

Cletus G. “Clete” Vondra, 87, of Platteville, died on Thursday, May 4, 2023 at his home. Mass of Christian burial will be at 10:30 AM, Thursday, May 11, 2023 at St. Philomena Catholic Church, Belmont. Father Michael Tarigopula will officiate. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery, Platteville. Visitation will be from 4:00 – 7:00 PM, Wednesday, May 10, 2023 at the Melby Funeral Home & Crematory, Platteville, and will continue from 9:30 – 10:15 AM Thursday at the church. Online condolences can be made at www.melbyfh.com.

Cletus, or “Clete” as so many knew him as, was born on March 14, 1936 at Ipswitch, Lafayette County, Wisconsin, son of Anton and Maude (Deiter) Vondra. He graduated from Platteville High School in 1954. Clete was united in marriage to Janet “Jan” Gehrke on September 24, 1955 at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Platteville. Jan preceded him in death on August 16, 2019. Clete was a lifelong farmer. When he was young he drove milk truck for Jenny Bros., and for 50 years he worked at the Belmont Sales Barn and Clayton Auction Service. Clete enjoyed hunting, fishing, traveling and going to the casino.

Clete is survived by four children, Diane (Terry) Yunk, LuAnn (Tom) Spensley, Lori (Steve) VanBogaert, and Mike (Julie) Vondra; eight grandchildren, Justin (Tracy) Spensley, Brianna (Brent) Belongea, Chad (Shannon) Yunk, Kyle (fiance, Brianna Riechers) VanBogaert Brittany (Ryan) O'Connell, Cody (Colleen) Vondra, Brady Vondra, K and Colton (Becka) Vondra; eleven great-grandchildren; brother, Norman (Norma) Vondra; sisters-in-law, Bonnie Vondra, Deb Raess and Harriet Deiter, nieces and nephews and his loving companion, Nick. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jan, his parents, brothers, Arlyn and Doug, sisters, Delores Margan and Jeanette Stanton, fatehr and mother-in-law, Harlan and Helen Gehrke, and brother-in-law, Merlin Gehrke.

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Cletus
MB
michele bartels
Other •
my deepest sympathy to your family, hugs!!
KK
Korey Kopp
Other •
Sending my sympathy for your loss.
DB
Daneen Bernhardt
Other •
Whenever it was warm out Kevin and I could always count on seeing Cletus sitting on his front porch with Nickie. He was always happy to have a chat for a while, and often offered a beverage. Our families had many conversations in the yard over the years, and he always checked in on how our kids were doing and what they were up to. Cletus and Jan were a joy to have as neighbors and we will always be grateful to have such wonderful neighbors who felt like family. We will miss visiting with Cletus on his porch with Nickie, or out in the yard taking a break from mowing to chat.
KB
Kevin Bernhardt
Other •
Cletus was our neighbor for the last several years and we will miss him. My wife Daneen wrote another message about chatting with Cletus on his porch throughout the warm days of the year. Another memory for me was mowing the empty lot between our houses. We would both mow it, whoever got to it first, but occasionally we would be out there at the same time. It was fun to mow it down as we worked closer together pretending we had our big rigs out in the farm field somewhere! It always ended with a good long chat over a freshly mowed lawn!
CS
Connie Stephens
Other •
We would like to share sympathy and prayers to the family. I knew Clete from Farm and Fleet, the bank and his sister was married to my dad. It is so hard to lose a loved one so please know that our thoughts ae with you. Randy and Connie Stephens
RW
randall wedig
Other •
R I P

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