Gordon Ernest Vine

Gordon Ernest Vine, 93, of Neillsville, WI passed away Monday, July 3, 2017 at home in the care of family, hospice and aides while battling cancer. Gordon was born Nov. 15, 1923 to Ernest and Margaret Vine. He was raised in the Town of Grant and in May, 1941, graduated from Neillsville High School where he made his mark in football, basketball and baseball. In the fall of 1941 he enrolled in River Falls State College until his enlistment in the United States Army Air Corp in 1943. He was deployed to Italy where he was a veteran as a top turret gunner on a B-24 Bomber. On the 12th mission their bomberexperienced mechanical problems and crash landed in Yugoslavia. After the war Gordon returned home to finish his degree at River Falls. There he met his future wife, Faith Griffith. Gordon graduated in 1947 and started his career teaching WWII veterans agriculture basics in Melrose, WI. He and Faith were married in 1948 and they moved back to a neighboring farm to his birthplace, in the Town of Grant. Here he again taught AG to WWII veterans and he and Faith settled down to raise their family. In 1952, Gordon accepted a sales position with the American Dairy Association. He worked with area cheese factories and cooperatives, in promoting dairy products. In addition, he continued to farm with his father and mother. In the early 1960s he converted the dairy farm to a beef operation. He also raised various other animals to enhance his childrens farm experience, while continuing his career with the American Dairy Association. In 1969, he accepted a position as AG loan officer at the NeillsvilleBank, where he worked until his retirement in 1986.As a longtime resident he was active in Kiwanis and Rotary where he served in leadership positions in both organizations. He was also an active member of the United Church of Christ.He spent many hours at the Neillsville Country Club, where he enjoyed time golfing aswell as many nights of poker. He was an avid fisherman and hunter. He enjoyed deer hunting and grouse hunting in WI, many fishing trips to Canada, mule deer hunting in Wyoming, and pheasant hunting in South Dakota. In latter years he spent many hours fishing crappies and bluegills, in area lakes and ponds. After retirement he began a career as an author, writing books about his family heritage, WWII experiences, a book on his hunting exploits, another on his about his children. His final book written in 2010 was on the geological history of Wisconsin, titled, The Land We Live On.Gordon was preceded in death, by the love of his life, Faith (Griffith) Vine, who passed away on July 3, 1986. He is survived by five children, Jane (Greg) Nelson, Lake Park, MN, Virginia (Paul) Fennema, Pleasant Prairie, WI, Paul (Kelley), Neillsville, Jeff (Betsy), Greensboro, NC, Kristine (Jon) Kirschhoeffer, Stillwater, MN;. He is survived by eleven grandchildren, Adam & Eric Knoff, Jason and Lauren Fennema, Sara (Vine) Johnson, Lindsay Vine, Jenna (Vine) Mayer, Jack and Jordan Vine, Brian and Kevin Bowditch, and four great-grandchildren, Liam Knoff, Landon and Audrey Fennema, and Calvin Mayer. Following the death of Faith Vine, Gordon remarried Marlys Riedel and divorced, he also was married to Norma Normington, deceased. He is survived by his special friend Beatrice Hinke, Payson AZ.Funeral Home:Gesche Funeral Home4 South Grand AvenueNeillsville, WIUS 54456