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At the grand old age of 88, dad decided to leave us, to be with mom and challenge her to another game of Gin Rummy.

William C. Vattendahl, 88, recently of Champlin, MN, passed away at home surrounded by family.

Bill was born in Grand Forks, ND, but did most of his growing up in Superior, WI, which he considered his 'home town'. After a stint as a sea-going Marine at the end of WWII, he married the spunky, fiery redhead, Gladys Mae Nash in Minneapolis in 1951. They then moved to Whittier, CA, where they lived for 23 years. Bill was a crane operator by trade, and had his own company called Vatt's Equipment Rentals. He worked on many unique projects, including Disneyland, movie sets at Universal Studios, and millionaire/celebrity homes. Many iron workers in the L.A. area wouldn't do a job unless Bill Vattendahl was running the crane.

After he lost his high frequency hearing from the roar of the crane, Bill and Gladys moved to Brooklyn Park, MN in 1973, and he tried his hand at many careers, including Realtor, manager of juice vending machines in health clubs, distributor of Ambassador Meats, and finally, owner of a bike shop in Brooklyn Center called Continental Bicycle & Sports. They moved from Brooklyn Park in 1992.

Bill was a proficient and imaginative woodworker, and he spent many hours in his pole barn in Longville, building and/or drinking RedDog with his buddies. Bill and Gladys enjoyed 21 years of retirement in the beautiful town of Longville, MN, in their beautiful log home, and were blessed to have 62 happy years together before Gladys passed away in 2013.

Bill is survived by daughters Kari (Lalo) Vattendahl Vidal, and Heidi Vattendahl. He was very proud of his grandchildren, Gabe, Nick, and Marisa Vattendahl Vidal, and Keaton, Coral, and Tessa Palmer. He is also survived by many loving nieces (especially "Tina-Boo") and nephews, as well as good friends.

Bill was preceded in death by wife, Gladys (Nash) Vattendahl, parents, Sigurd and Stella Vattendahl, brothers, Lowell (Gen) Vattendahl, and Jerome Vattendahl, sister, Marjorie (Richard Bong/Murray) Drucker, in-laws, Floyd and Mabel Nash, and nephew, Thomas (Tom) Nash.

He will be dearly missed by us all.[[In-content Ad]]

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