Rodney Slotten, age 79, of Verona, WI, died on Friday, March 8, 2002 at the Don and Marilyn Anderson Hospice Center, following a stroke. He was born on Feb. 14, 1923 in Dodgeville, WI. He attended the one room, eight class Andrew Henry School at PB and Whalen Road in Verona. He graduated from the Verona High School in 1940. On Jan. 23, 1943 he married Blanche B. Burgdorff. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from Feb. 2, 1943 to April 3, 1946 in the South Pacific aboard the USS Hornet and others. He was a Golden Years member of the Silver Wings Fraternity, having soloed in powered aircraft in 1939. He was a member of Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, the American Legion, a life member of the V.F.W. and the Marine Corps League. He was also a member of the MENSA Club. In 1985 he retired from Illinois Tool Works as a Tool and Die Maker. After his retirement he pursued his dream of building and operating his own airport – The Verona Airpark. His aviation career started in 1939 in Lombard, IL where he received his commercial pilot’s license and his seaplane, duster spray and banner towing ratings. He was a flight instructor in the Chicago area for over 50 years, sharing his love of flying with 100’s. Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Blanche; his son, Robin Slotten and his wife, Ruth; his daughter, Renee Beauchamp and son-in-law, Donald. He is further survived by his two grandchildren, Andrew and Zoe Beauchamp. He was preceded in death by his mother, Lula Bowen-Slotten in 1937 and his father, Orville Charles Slotten in 1961. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Don and Marilyn Anderson HospiceCare Center. Funeral Services will be held at the JoyceRyan Verona Funeral Home, 118 N. Franklin St., Verona, WI at 11 a.m. Monday, March 11, 2002. Friends may call at the Joyce-Ryan Verona Funeral Home after 10 a.m. Monday, March 11, 2002 until the service time. 608-845-6625 ; www.ryanfuneralservice.com
