Obituary for Vilas ‘Bud’ Jesse Lund
March 11, 1932 – April 29, 2023
Mr. Vilas “Bud” Lund, 91, passed away at Brookside Care Center in Kenosha on April 29, 2023.
A lifelong resident of Racine, Bud was born on March 11, 1932, the son of the late Jesse and Glee (nee Seybold) Lund. He attended Washington Park High School and later served his nation with the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War.
Bud worked as a firefighter with the Great Lakes Fire Department, retiring as chief in 1986 after 30 years of service. He also started and operated a business called Triangle Fire and Safety Equipment Inc., in the 1970s and ‘80s.
He formerly attended Atonement Lutheran Church, was a Master Mason with Masonic Lodge #189 in Milwaukee, life member of the Scottish Rite, life member of the Tripoli Shriners, the Jesters, the Wednesday Optimist Club, and the Racine Moose #437. He also was a fire safety instructor for the Boy Scouts of America and Gateway Technical College.
Bud is survived by his son, Mark Lund of Bremerton, Wash.; daughter, Nancy Combs of Racine; grandchildren, Christopher (Nancy) Combs, Erin (Greg) Nease, Elise (Juan) Villegas, Alex Lund, and Evan Lund; great-granddaughter, Chloe Nease; nephew and niece, Tony (Phyllis) Kombol, and Susan (Chris) Smith; very dear companion and longtime friend, Joan Langendorf. He always said with a smile and a wink that they never argued in the 35 years they were together. “She was always right.” Finally, he is survived by his best friend also regarded as his fourth son, David (Annette) Carbajal.
In addition to his parents, Bud was preceded in death by his sons, Steve and Joe Lund, and his sisters, Margarite, Helen, and Bede.
Services
Family and friends are invited to meet in the Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home and Crematory on Friday, May 12, 2023, for a visitation from 10 a.m. until noon. A memorial service honoring and celebrating his life with Military Honors will follow at noon. He will be interred at Graceland Cemetery after the service. Memorials in Bud’s name have been suggested to the Tripoli Shriners of Milwaukee or the Children’s Burn Center at Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital.
Bud was comforted during his final hours by his daughter, Nancy J. Combs, his grandson, Christopher Combs, and his wife, Nancy, as well as his best friend, David Carbajal, and his wife, Annette.
Appreciation goes out to all those at Home Harbor for contributing to Bud’s quality of life over the last few years. The highest regards for the care Bud received by the fine staff at Ascension Hospital and Brookside Care Center. Thank you. Finally, a special thanks to Dr. Robert Gullberg for the care and friendship he has offered over these many years.
Obituary and photo courtesy of Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home.
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