Persis Vanderbilt

Persis Geraldine Vanderbilt , age 93 of Oxford went to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, February 20, 2019.  She was born on July 19, 1925 at home on her family’s homesteaded farm in Oxford Township to Earl and Mabel (Jungenberg) Herrick.  She married Duane Vanderbilt on January 1, 1944 at her farm home.  They and their family moved to several places in the Oxford-Portage area until 1959.  They moved to California to live for almost 20 years – then moved back to Wisconsin in 1979.

Persis was a precious, godly woman who walked with her Lord daily.  Her example showed her to be a woman of kindness, love, compassion, sweetness, and many other wonderful attributes.  She was soft-spoken but had godly wisdom to share.  Persis was the best prayer warrior for her family.

Persis and Duane traveled to many places in the United States to visit family and friends.  They also wintered in Arizona for 20 years which gave them good memories.   Persis played the piano for Sunday School and church services for many years.  She enjoyed gardening, baking cookies, quilting, crocheting, embroidery, and being with her family.

Persis is survived by her five children:  Donna (James) Filiatrault of Montello, Stephen (Kazuko) of Japan, David (Jennifer) of North Carolina, James (Jean) of California and Philip of Arizona.  She is also survived by nine grandchildren:  Daniel, Rachel, Michelle, Joshua, Joel, Stephen, Nancy, Leslie and Philip Jr., as well as granddaughter-in-law, Barbara Filiatrault.  Persis was blessed with 17 great-grandchildren.  Her special nieces, the Jones girls: Debra, Diane, Darlene, and Doreen came to help their Aunt Persis many times.

Persis was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Duane in 2008, brothers:  Wesley, Donald and Stanley Herrick (in infancy), sister, Dorothy Jones, two grandchildren: Timothy and Carlone Filiatrault, sisters-in-law: Faye and Mary Herrick and brother-in-law, Harold Jones.

Persis appreciated the thoughts and prayers of all of her family and friends these past few months.

A funeral service for Persis Vanderbilt will be held on Monday, February 25, 2019 at 11:00 AM at the Oxford Bible Church.  Visitation will be held from 9:30 AM until the hour of service.  Pastor George Noll will officiate and burial will follow at the Oxford Village Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, donations are preferred to the family for several memorials that will be established in Persis’s name.

Crawford Funeral and Cremation Service of Oxford and Montello is honored to be serving the family. www.CrawfordFH.com