Claude N. VanNess (1926-2021)
Jul. 21—MARTIN, Ohio — Claude N. VanNess, a carpenter and farmer who was among U.S. forces to liberate Germany's Dachau concentration camp near the end of World War II, died in his Martin home on July 11, two days before his 95th birthday.
His health had been in gradual decline, relatives said.
He had a saying, "'You have to keep moving or you'll stove up and die,'" said his daughter, Claudia VanSickle.
His son John said, "He was mowing his grass last year yet."
Mr. VanNess had teaching still to do, and that included guiding his daughter in changing a rototiller's spark plugs and a car's battery.
"He took me out and sat on his mower and told me what to do," his daughter said. "He was very knowledgeable, and quiet. He had the answers for everything, the questions I had. He had a lot of wisdom."
He was born July 13, 1926, to Hattie and Jesse VanNess, the youngest of six sons and the 13th of what would be 14 children. He grew up on the family's Sandusky County farm near Gibsonburg and went to school through eighth grade.
"He had to help work on the farm," his daughter said.
He enlisted in the Army at age 17 and departed for Europe in March, 1945. He was in the famed 42nd Infantry Division, known as the Rainbow Division, which in late April, 1945 liberated the Dachau camp near Munich.
"He was upset. He felt awful," his daughter said.
After the war's end, he remained as part of occupation forces until July, 1946. He brought home souvenirs — German helmets, bayonets, money — and was more likely to bring up skiing in Europe than to speak of his wartime experience.
"He didn't talk about it a lot. He just said it was nasty over there," his son said.
After a brief stint at the Libbey-Owens-Ford plant in Rossford, Mr. VanNess became a carpenter and formed VanNess Construction with his brother Dale. The firm built homes and home additions across northwest Ohio.
He continued to work on the family farm, which he took over in 1967, growing corn and soybeans. He had a garden every year — tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, peppers, rhubarb.
"He always had flowers," his daughter said. "He was the rose king."
His annuals were planted from the seeds he saved from the previous year's flowers.
"He told his grandson Rusty he grew the flowers to give them to my mom," his daughter said.
He was a leader of Boy Scout Troop 399 for more than a decade. At St. John's United Church of Christ in Genoa, Mr. VanNess was an usher but also built church and Sunday school furnishings. He'd been a board member of Elderlife, the church's independent living ministry.
He was a member for more than 70 years of American Legion Post 324 in Genoa and in 2011 took an Honor Flight to tour the Washington war memorials.
He and the former Darlene Barrett married May 14, 1949. She died Sept. 10, 2007.
Surviving are his sons, Tom, Jerry, John, and Terry VanNess; daughter, Claudia VanSickle; sister, Dorothy Foss; nine grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.
A graveside service with honors by Post 324 will begin at 11 a.m. Friday at West Union Cemetery, Gibsonburg. Arrangements are by the Robinson-Walker Funeral Home, Genoa.
The family suggests tributes to the Wounded Warrior Project, Chicago, or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis.
