Albert Vinje

Vinje, Albert LeRoy MADISON Albert LeRoy Vinje, age 85, died Sunday, June 29, 2008, while vacationing in California. He was born in Blanchardville, Wis., to Hans and Ella (Ulven) Vinje, both born in Norway, and he graduated from Blanchardville High School in 1940. Albert enlisted and served as staff sergeant in World War II in the China-Burma-India campaign, working as a sheet metal technician on Army aircraft. Albert, or LeRoy, as he was known to many friends, returned from the military and married Laurabelle Larson on Nov. 17, 1945, in Blanchardville. They lived in Madison and Middleton, and were married for 53 years before her death in 1999. Albert worked as a painter and paperhanger for more than 40 years, most of these for the Klein and Dickert Company of Madison, and was a life member of the Brotherhood of Painters and Allied Trades. He lived for the past nine years in Clearwater, Fla. Albert is survived by his three daughters, Sheila Berg of Pella, Iowa, Louanne (Richard) Pauley of Sparks, Nev. and Patricia (Michael) Hickey of Santa Rosa, Calif.; two granddaughters, Kristin (Todd) Bernhagen and Karla Berg, both of Pella, Iowa; and three great-grandsons in Pella. Albert is also survived by a sister, Gladys Jeanblanc, living in Pakistan; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a sister, Ida Vinje; and his brothers, Obert and Edwin. Funeral services will be held at BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH, 312 Wisconsin Ave., Madison, at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, July 8, 2008, with the Rev. William R. White presiding. A luncheon reception will then follow in the church hall. Entombment will be later that day in Roselawn Memorial Park Mausoleum, Madison, with the Rev. Curtis Everson presiding. Funeral arrangements are under direction of GUNDERSON FUNERAL HOME, 7435 University Ave., Middleton. The family has requested that friends and family members who want to offer funeral flowers instead consider a memorial contribution in Alberts name to the University of Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Center, 600 Highland Ave., Madison WI 53792; or to Bethel Lutheran Church, 312 Madison Ave., Madison WI 53703.