December 18, 2022 – Iron Ridge, Wi – Dennis Lee Vetter, 78, of Iron River, WI passed away Friday, November 18, 2022 from Stage 4 cancer.
Dennis was born October 7, 1944 in Plymouth, WI, the son of Leland and Vivian (Staege) Vetter. He is a graduate of Kewaskum High School. On August 17, 1968, he married Jeanette Von Ende. Together they raised 2 children, Lea and Eric.
Dennis received his bachelor’s degree from UW-Whitewater and his master’s and Educational Specialist degrees from UW-Superior. Dennis was employed as a teacher and cross country/track & field coach at New Richmond, Mayville, and Fond du Lac and administrator at Oshkosh, Phillips, & Ashland School Districts.
For over 2 decades, Dennis and Jeanette owned and operated Anderson’s Chequamegon Motel in Ashland, Evergreen Acres Farm and Campground in Benoit, and Shady Oaks Tourist Homes on Iron Lake in Iron River. After retirement, Dennis and Jeanette moved to Iron River.
Dennis enjoyed running marathons and cross-country skiing. He completed 22 American Birkebeiner cross-country ski races in Hayward. In 1982, Dennis became the 53rd citizen skier in the world to complete the “World Loppet” series of cross-country ski races in North America and Europe.
Together with his son Eric, Dennis raised purebred Simmental beef cattle and showed at the Ashland and Bayfield County Fairs and Wisconsin State Fair. Dennis was a great supporter of Lea and Eric in their participation in sports, music, 4-H, and academia throughout high school and college.
Dennis is survived by his wife Jeanette; daughter Lea (Steve) DeCramer of Joliet, IL; son Eric (Carmen) Vetter of Urbana, IL; granddaughter Emma DeCramer; sisters Gloria (Joseph) Boden of Black River Falls; Gelane (Carl) Firme of Sun Prairie; Diane Jaeger of Campbellsport; Jeaneen (John) Kudek, Elaine (Frank) Poos, brother Dale Vetter, sister-in-law Carol Vetter all of Kewaskum; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Dennis is preceded in death by his parents, brother Jerry Vetter, brother-in-law Jack Jaeger, and nephew Joey Boden.
A private service will be held at a later date. A memorial fund is being established.
The Frost Home for Funerals is assisting he family with arrangements.
