Clete M. ‘Doc’ Vonderwell, 81, of Delphos, Ohio, passed away on April 7 at Community Health Professionals Inpatient Hospice Center in Van Wert.
He was born October 25, 1935, in St. Marys to Clarence and Matilda (Post) Vonderwell, who preceded him in death. He was united in marriage on August 1, 1992, to Mary Neumeier, who survives in Delphos.
He was a graduate of Delphos St. John’s, then attended Oblate Preparatory School, where he was a junior seminarian. He later took college classes at St. Joseph College in Rensselaer, Ind., where he played baseball. He then got accepted to the Ohio State Veterinary School in the fall of 1959, graduating in 1963 with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural science. He was owner of the Vonderwell Clinic for 42 years, retiring in 2004.
He was a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church; past president, charter member and co-founder of International Veterinary Acupuncture Society for two terms; taught acupuncture all over the world; and treated canine units for the Van Wert Sheriff Department. He was a past president for St. John’s School and Church. His love was treating harness horses, where he hosted many international veterinarians.
In addition to his wife, he is also survived by his sons, Michael (Vicki), Arthur (Brenda), David (Sue), Donald (Barb), Daniel (Jen) and Richard (Jen); daughter Marcy (Matty) Swift; brothers, Ike and John; step-sons, Daniel (Marcie) Metzger and Anthony ‘Tony’ (Kelli) Metzger; brothers and sisters-in-law, Kay (Roger) Schlereth, Bill (JoAnn) Neumeier, Rog (Candy) Neumeier, Don (Lois) Neumeier, Tom (Tami) Neumeier, Gary ‘Tubby’ (Marsha) Neumeier, Joanie (Dave) Nijak, Jerry (Doris) Neumeier, Ben (Cheryl) Neumeier and Kathy Bates; grandchildren, Niki, Adam, Erin, Preston, Calvin, Brett, Trent, Mason, Tess, Joshua, A.J., Lillian, Evelyn, Madelyn, Aislyn, Isabelle, Desteni, Zak, Carla and Dani; step-grandchildren, Dominic, Chase, Braylon, Aubrey, Maddox and Ryker; and former wife, Lynne Huffman. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Anne; brother, Carl; sister, Rose Mary; and two sisters-in-law, Laura and Patricia.
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Doc Vonderwell.
(USTA)