Don Cornelius Vander Boegh

Don Cornelius Vander Boegh of Paducah passed away peacefully in his sleep on June 14 at his residence, The Lakes of Paducah. He was born on September 13, 1923 in Joliet, IL to the late Don and Audrey Vander Boegh.

Throughout his life he showed honor and devotion to his family and to his country. He graduated from Joliet Township High School in 1940 at the age of 16 and went on to complete his degree in Journalism from the Newspaper Institute of America.  He then trained and qualified as a civilian heavy equipment operator and enlisted in the Armored Branch of the U.S. Army and entered active service on November 23, 1942 at Camp Grant, Illinois. He completed armored basic training at Fort Knox and was assigned to Camp Campbell (now Fort Campbell) for duty. He volunteered and was accepted for the Aviation Cadet Training Program and for participation in the College Training Program (CTP) at Dickinson College, in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. After the European D-Day losses, he was released from the CTP for immediate availability to the combat reserve Infantry forces. He joined Company D, 310th Infantry Regiment, 78th ‘Lightning’ Infantry Division and qualified in the military occupational specialty of Heavy Machine Gunner (MOS 605).  He departed the continental U.S. on October 14, 1944 bound for the European Theater of Operations where he fought as a Platoon Sergeant with his unit in the Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe campaigns. In the Battle of the Bulge, he led his company across the Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen-- advancing East to Naumburg, Germany and to the end of WWII. He was honorably discharged as a Staff Sergeant on February 4, 1946 and earned the Bronze Star Medal for Heroism and another (Cluster) for Meritorious Achievement, “V” device for Valor, Combat Infantryman Badge, Distinguished Unit Badge (now, the Presidential Unit Citation), Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 3 Bronze Battle Stars, and the WWII Victory Medal.

After returning from the war, he met Ann on a blind date and 3 months later they married. They moved to Detroit, MI where he worked for Ford Motor Company. They returned to Paducah where he became Chief of the Guard Force for the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant during its construction. He then worked in Finance until moving to Texas where he became a Project Manager with Stone & Webster Engineering.  In 1959, they returned to Paducah where he started West Kentucky Paving. After semi-retirement, he became City Inspector for the City of Paducah-- then fully retired in 1981.

Don spent 3&1/2 wonderful years living at The Lakes of Paducah where he especially enjoyed his time at Trivia and Coffee Talk with his friends. He also loved UK basketball and was a lifetime Cubs fan.

Don was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 70 years, Anna Kathleen Vander Boegh; their infant daughter, Linda Kathleen Vander Boegh; brother, Robert Vander Boegh; sister, Katherine Spencer. Survivors include three sons- Gary Vander Boegh and wife Judy, Dr. Brian Vander Boegh and wife Carol, all of Paducah; Mark Vander Boegh and wife Diana of Lexington; two daughters, Karen Sloan and husband Terry of Paducah, Lori Vander Boegh of Nashville, TN; ten grandchildren--Leslie Vander Boegh Hudson of Nashville, TN; Summer Vander Boegh Pegram and husband Joe of Oxford, MS; Katie Robbins Traines and husband Ed of Chicago, IL; Tyler Robbins of Brentwood, TN; Eric Vander Boegh of Lexington, KY; Jennifer Azar Pitt and husband Curtis, Elizabeth Azar and fiancé Brandon Campbell, Taylor Sloan, Kristen Vander Boegh Carter and husband Bruce, Kevin Vander Boegh and wife Candace, all of Paducah; and six great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Clara Jean Pourchot of Atwood, IL and several nieces and nephews.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Nurse Teresa and to Shannon, Valerie, Chelsea, and all of the staff and residents at the Lakes of Paducah for their friendships and wonderful care.

A private family service will be held at the Smithland Cemetery in Smithland, KY.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to:

Disabled American Veterans at 3725 Alexandria Pike Cold Springs, KY 41076 www.dav.org or St. Jude Children’s Hospital at 262 Danny Thomas Place Memphis, TN 38105 www.stjude.org

Online condolences may be left at www.lindseyfuneral.com

Lindsey Funeral Home of Paducah is in charge of arrangements.