Alexander Vettel

Alexander ?Alex? Vettel, died Sunday, May 9, 2004 in the Hillsboro Medical Center, Hillsboro, North Dakota at the age of 85. Alexander John Vettel was born September 14, 1918 at Kelso, North Dakota, the son of John and Mary (Muller) Vettel. The family farmed in the Kelso and Caledonia area and also near Hillsboro, North Dakota. Alex graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1937. He farmed with his father until he was drafted into the Army during WWII. He was part of the invasion force at Omaha Beach in Normandy, France, he also served in Sicily and Africa and was wounded in France, for which he received the purple heart. After the war he returned to Hillsboro and began working as a carpenter. Alex married Violet Gustafson on November 24, 1953 in Stanley, North Dakota. The couple made their home in Hillsboro. He owned and operated Vettel Construction in Hillsboro from 1948 until his retirement in 1995. He has been a resident of the Hillsboro Nursing Home since 1998. Violet passed away in 2000. Alex was an avid gardener who loved spending time in his yard tending to his flowers and vegetables, sharing his harvest with family, friends, and neighbors. His love for nature, animals and children was very evident to anyone he met. Alex was also a wonderful woodworker who loved working on projects in his shop, including cuckoo clocks and grandfather clocks. He is survived by three children, Barb (Mike) Lhotka of Cokato, Minnesota; Bud Vettel of Hillsboro, North Dakota, and Joanie Vettel of West Fargo, North Dakota; and one granddaughter, Kate Vettel, Fargo, North Dakota. Two sisters Geraldine Yanish of Valley City, North Dakota and Delores Uriell of Lakota, North Dakota. He was preceded in death by his sisters; Bertha Wright, Marcella Vettel and a brother Jerome Vettel. Visitation: Monday from 6:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Hillsboro, North Dakota Funeral Mass: Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, Hillsboro North Dakota Burial: St. Rose of Lima Cemetery, Hillsboro, North Dakota Arrangements by Wildeman Funeral Home, Hillsboro, North Dakota Online guest book @www.boulgerfuneralhome.com