Georgia Lee Vandenberg, 106, of Kenosha, passed away peacefully on Monday, January 6, 2025, at her residence.
Georgia Lee was born on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1918, in Blue Island, IL. Her parents moved the family to Kenosha when she was quite young, where she grew up and lived for the remainder of her life. She was the oldest living parishioner of The First United Methodist Church in Kenosha, which she joined at the age of 11 in 1929. She attended Kenosha High School and worked for a time at the American Brass Company upon graduation. Most of her formative and teenage years were spent during the Great Depression, which most assuredly contributed to her toughness! She learned to sew and make her own clothes (with shoes to match of course) and do hair to make extra money for the family.
She married Gordon J. Vandenberg in 1939. Together, they raised three beautiful daughters, who were each unique and who made Georgia Lee very happy. As her children grew and moved on to live their own lives, Georgia Lee enjoyed playing golf and bridge, doing her yardwork, watching the Packers, and generally staying very active. Later in life, she was able to travel the world with her favorite companion, her sister Betty, and occasionally their cousin Dan. Together, they had many adventures travelling throughout Europe, the United Kingdom, and points in between.
Once you met Georgia Lee, you would never forget her. She was a force of nature!
Georgia Lee is survived by her daughter, Laura Lee Bistrick, her eight grand-children, Barry (Julie) Schwartz, Todd (Julie) Schwartz, Kristopher (Cynthia) Schwartz, Bobby Bistrick, Michael (Theresa) Carelli, Jeff (Michele) Carelli, William (Tracy) Mason, and Katherine (Scott) Baker, her twelve great grand-children, Ryan Schwartz, Megan Schwartz, Bailey (Christoper) Shaw, Madelyn (Jeff) Schwartz, Kristian Schwartz, Zakry (Riho) Schwartz, Mia Carelli, Kate Carelli, Jack Carelli, Nicholas Carelli, Madeline Baker and Alec Baker, and her five great great grand-children (yes, that’s right!), Tyler, Vincent, Sophia, Reagan and Jenevieve.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Ray and Marie Thornton, her sisters Bonnie Thornton and Betty (Harold) Martinson, her husband Gordon Vandenberg, her daughters, Patricia Zachari and Shirlee Mason, and her son-in laws, Robert Bistrick, Zachary Zachari, and John Mason.
A visitation will be held at Bruch Funeral Home on Monday, January 13, 2025, from 3-6 pm. A celebration of Georgia Lee’s life will be held on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. (Noon) at The First United Methodist Church, 919 Sheridan Rd, Kenosha. Interment will follow at Sunset Ridge Memorial Park. Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. until the time of service at the church.
