Wallace H. Vorpahl
June 20, 1934 - February 1, 1972
June 20, 1934 - February 1, 1972
It started with flu and cold-like symptoms in early September of 1971. We had attended a relative's funeral on a cold, windy, rainy day and thought Wally caught a bad cold. We had also just recently returned from a vacation up north to a cottage, and our son and daughter were feeling sick, too. Thinking along those thoughts, they were all tested for food poisoning, influenza, and colds. Wally's neck swelled up, he had a high fever, and his joints ached, so he was admitted to Calumet Medical Hospital on September 15. They ran tests and quarantined him - NO phone, NO TV, and NO visitors - because of no knowledge as to what he was carrying. I could only go to the door in a gown and mask. He had no contact with anyone other than the nurses or doctors during his entire stay. He was released on October 3, with no explanation, no diagnosis, and feeling very weak.
October 5, he was so weak that he was transported to Madison University Hospital via an ambulance driven by some of his Kiel Firemen buddies. During this hospitalization, I only got to visit him twice, because I had to be hospitalized for surgery at Sheboygan Memorial, our niece was in a car accident, and our kids were at home sick. I do not know all the tests and surgeries he endured during his stay, but he remained there until November 24. He returned home quite weak and at his check-up on December 28, we were told it was probably Hodgkin's Lymphoma, but they were not sure. He was given 10 to 30 years to live.
On January 25, 1972, things got worse and he had to enter Sheboygan Memorial Hospital for kidney problems. Things did not look real good. On February 1, 1972, a real powerful shot was given to get the kidney function started, but instead he went into a coma and passed away within a few minutes. Being there, only with a neighbor, I had to go home and tell the children their father passed away.
Wallace left behind 2 children - a son (14) and a daughter (12) - and also his sister's children - a nephew (13) and a niece (18) of whom we were guardians after both of their parents had died at the ages of 36 and 37 from cancer. I was a widow at age 36 and single mother to 4 children under the age of 19. It was very traumatic for all of us. We had been married for 18 years. He was a great husband and father.
Our lives were forever changed in minutes - without any prediction of what this disease was capable of doing. We need to find a cure for all types of cancer.
My Grandma chose Mile 6 for Wallace, in honor of his June birthday.
Make a donation in memory of Wallace and others we have lost, those still fighting, and those who may one day be spared this fight because of what we‘re doing.
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