DELAVAN – Frederic C. Vorlop, age 86, passed away on Tuesday, November 21, 2023, at home in Delavan. He was born in Randolph, WI on March 6, 1937, to Frederick and Norma (Zieman) Vorlop.
Fred is survived by his wife of 62 years, June; children: Gretchen Waitley, Elizabeth (Brad) Hilbelink, and Fritz (Michele) Vorlop; and eight grandchildren: Samantha and Jack Waitley; Anna (Spenser) Marting, Grace and Luke Hilbelink; and Freddy, Maggie and Liesl Vorlop. Fred is preceded in death by his parents and son-in-law, Greg Waitley.
Fred grew up in Randolph WI which was always described as a cross between Mayberry and Lake Wobegon. Despite being an only child, he was surrounded by a large extended family full of characters that gave him plenty of stories to tell his children and grandchildren decades later. As a teenager, he met June DeYoung, and eight years later, on September 8, 1961, they were united in marriage at Fort Lewis, WA where Fred was serving as a captain in the US Army.
During their 62-year marriage, Fred and June’s life centered around their family. They both signed on for babysitting duties whenever asked and were closely involved with the lives of their eight grandkids. His grandchildren will always remember him as a tireless and purposefully bad hide-and-go-seek player.
Outside of his family, his passions included Badger football, gardening and reading. He attended his first Badger football game with his dad in 1944, and his last, just three days before his passing. We are grateful they pulled out a win for him that night. During his sixty plus years as a Badger season ticket holder he attended seven Rose Bowls and only missed three home games.
His beautiful English garden at his childhood home in Randolph was a labor of love and a work of art. Spring, summer and fall were spent in the garden, and winter was spent researching flowers; it was not uncommon for him to seek out unique plants from all over the world. He regularly paid grandchildren well above the going hourly rate to help with tasks ranging from planting trees to picking up sticks. There was not a stray leaf or weed to be seen.
He was a voracious reader who never lost his curiosity about the world around him. He earned his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Over the course of each week, he read every word of the Sunday New York Times and still managed to keep multiple books active at the same time.
Following his time in the army, he taught history in West Allis, WI before transitioning into school administration. He served as Vice Principal at James Madison Memorial High School in Madison, WI, Principal at Delavan-Darien High School in Delavan, WI and then Assistant Superintendent and later Superintendent of Schools in Barrington, IL. He retired from Barrington thinking he would get to relax, but instead ended up working as a nanny to Gretchen and Greg’s kids when they came along (grandchildren #3 and #5). The Williams Bay School District eventually called him back to the world of paid employment where he wrapped up his career as Superintendent of Schools before he retired for the second time in 2011.
Since then, Fred and June have been enjoying their lives together with family and friends, volunteering with church and Meals on Wheels, traveling, and generally enjoying life. Fred was a man of deep faith. He exemplified this daily, and lived his life with love, grace, and compassion. He often commented that once someone got on his prayer list they never left. He was an exceptional husband, father, grandfather and friend. He will be missed terribly by June, his kids, grandkids and all who knew and loved him, and they are grateful to know that they will see him again in heaven.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Thursday, November 30, 2023, at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 416 W. Geneva Street in Delavan with a visitation one hour prior. An additional visitation will be held from 4:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M. on Wednesday, November 29, 2023 at the church. Burial with military honors will take place at 1:00 P.M. on Friday, December 1, 2023, at Randolph Cemetery. Memorials can be directed to Our Redeemer Lutheran Church with School at orlcs.org or The American Heart Association at heart.org.
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