Carl Christian Vandre

Born on June 30th,1925 in Merrill, WI , 9th of 10 children.
As a teenager, he bought his first motorcycle for $20 in pieces and courted Dorothy on it.
He joined the Army Air Force in 1943 where he studied flight engineering and became a WWII veteran.
He came home from the service and married Dorothy on January 2nd, 1946.
Their daughter Loretta was born on January 6th, 1947.
They visited Casper Wyoming and stayed 3 � years. Carl became a high wage electrician in the oil fields in 1948.
Their son Phil was born on October 15th, 1949.
They moved their family to Denver to use VA schooling. Carl entered radio repair school and the school closed in 1951.
He then started refrigeration school and that school closed as well.
He started working at Wazee electric, and bought another motorcycle for transportation.
Jerry was born on February 13th, 1954.
He sold another motorcycle to start his own business Vandre Refrigeration in 1954 and purchased his first work truck.
Ellen was born October 16th, 1960.
Mom and Dad (Carl and Dorothy) ran their business for the next 10 years out of their home on S. Elati in Englewood.
In the early 70's, Carl took his family camping and dirt biking on the weekends.
In 1981 he retired from his electrical and refrigeration business and began tinkering with and restoring motorcycles.
The 1925 Deluxe Henderson was the first motorcycle he restored.
He began acquiring the knowledge and dominant interest in Henderson bikes. He joined the antique motorcycle club and went to swap meets where he met many of the contacts and friends that he has today.
He had his first show at Currigan in 1983. He showed the Henderson and joined the Antique Motorcycle Club of America.

Motorcycles that Carl has worked on
1912 Excelsior Belt Drive Twin which he traded for a C.N.C. milling machine and taught himself how to use and program. This mill gave him the ability to make the parts he needed.

1925 Super X

Shaft Drive Military Motorcycle

1936 Chevy

Yellow and white Indian Chief with sidecar

1945 Harley

101 Scout

In between all his projects he loved to help others with theirs. He would always stop what he was doing and give his full attention to them.

He would always say he was glad to see you and thank you for stopping by.
"Stop by sometime" is what he would always say when he met you.
National cross-country road-runs with Dorothy and the sidecar and their dog started in the early 1980's.
Carl had a spot in Davenport, Iowa at a motorcycle swap meet from the early 1980's and people would come from around the world to meet up with him. After 20 years in that spot, he was widely known and relied upon for information, friendship and support with their bikes.
He and Dorothy hosted the spring Antique Motorcycle Club of America monthly meeting at his shop each year. This was one of the guys favorites. He would offer brats, burgers and lots of desserts.

His church, his God, and the fellowship that it offered was a cornerstone in his life.


Carl is survived by his wife Dorothy; Children Loretta (Ed) Grimberg. Phil Vandre, Jerry (Debbie) Vandre, Ellen (John) Vandre-Weber; Grandchildren Rindy, Patty, John, Debbie, Karissa, Thomas, Timothy, Brenda, Justin, Lanette, Jay, Shawn and Charlene; Great-Grandchildren Casey, Robin, Codi, Tiffany, Melissa, JJ, Dakota, Aaron, Adam, Austin, and Andrew

Visitation will be held at Christ Lutheran Church (2695 South Franklin) on Monday, February 11, 2008 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Funeral services will be held at Christ Lutheran Church , Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at 10:00 a.m.. Interment Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers friends may make memorial contributions to Christ Lutheran Church or a Charity of Choice.