Richard "Dick" Humphrey Gorden

Dick Van Gorden, age 91, of Neillsville, WI died Tuesday, December 20, 2016 at the Care & Rehab Neillsville.Richard Humphrey Van Gorden was born on May 26, 1925 in Alma Center, WI the son of Archie and Hazel (Fremstad) Van Gorden. He attended the 1st through 11th grades in Neillsville and graduated from St. John's Military Academy in Delafield, WI in 1943. He entered U.S. Army training in Texas assigned to ski troops in 1944. Trained in mountain warfare at Camp Hale in Colorado then a detached assignment to advanced radio school at Fort Benning, Georgia. He returned to Regimental Headquarers 87th infantry 10th Mountain Division in December, 1944. Landed at the Bay of Naples, Italy on Christmas Day 1944. Served in combat as communications N.C.O. from Appinines through Po Valley and into the Alps of Italy. Then served in Triest and Upine, Yugoslavia with occupational forces to the end of WWII. Dick received the Bronze Star for heroic and meritorious service in Torbole, Italy in 1945. He also received the 6th service command rifle team award, unit presidential citation, combat service ribbons and combat infantry badge. He was honorably discharged in 1945. In 1951 he was married to Patricia North , they later divorced in 1954. On June 19, 1957 he was united in marriage to Janet Olson in Greenwood, WI.When he came back to Neillsville he returned to his business partnership with his brother and best friend, Heron "Pink" in feed and fertilizer production, serving central Wisconsin agriculture. Dick was a member of Calvary Lutheran Church. He served as President of the Kiwanis Club, President of the Neillsville Library Board, served as a scout master, and was a member of the WI Fertilizer Association in which he served 50 years with two terms on the board of directors and one term as president.Dick enjoyed hunting and skiing in Wisconsin and throughout the mountains in western U.S., Canada and the Yukon Territory.He is survived by his wife, Janet, four children, Nancy (Tim) Kopp of Neillsville, WI, Peggy (Gary) Minor of Pittsville, WI, Holly Van Gorden and Tamara (Art Colburn) Van Gorden-Stone, seven grandchildren and one great great granddaughter.He was preceded in death by his parents, two children, Bill Van Gorden and Sandy Van Gorden, a brother, Heron "Pink" Van Gorden and a sister, Cyrena Dierauer.Funeral Services for Dick will be held at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, December 29, 2016 at the Calvary Lutheran Church in Neillsville. Pastor Chad Anderson will officiate. Music will be provided by Jodi Rueth, organist. Interment will be in the Neillsville City Cemetery with Military Honors performed by the Neillsville Veteran's Council.Casket Bearers are: Tim Kopp, Joe Kopp, John Kopp, Gary Minor Bill Minor and Tara Minor.Online Condolences may be made at www.geschefh.com. The Gesche Funeral Home is assisting Dick's family with Funeral arrangements.Funeral Home:Gesche Funeral Home4 South Grand AvenueNeillsville, WIUS 54456