When Dale Vanderburg walked out the door of the county Road Commission's Suttons Bay garage Thursday afternoon, he took with him a lifetime of experience with cold winter nights and hot summer days.

Vanderburg, 65, will officially retire on March 31 after working 41 years for the Road Commission. His first day was April 6, 1967.

April 6 is an important date in the Vanderburg household.

“Our daughter Laurie was born on April 6, 1968,” said Martha (Herman) Vanderburg, Dale’s wife. Vanderburg said he worked at the now-removed Frigid Foods plant on Suttons Bay’s north end prior to being hired by the Road Commission.

“I was working different jobs as well. After I got married, I knew I had to get something a little more steady,” he said.

Martha Vanderburg suggested Dale talk to her “Uncle Bill,” — Bill Herman, long-time manager for the Road Commission. During his career at the commission he worked with other relatives, including brother-in-law Tom Herman.

Vanderburg has worked since the eighth grade. When his father was experiencing poor health, Dale dropped out of school in the eighth grade to run the family farm on Donner Road. Habits he developed on the farm, such as getting up every day at 4 a.m., served him well while working for the Road Commission.

When asked if he will continue the practice of getting up so early, Vanderburg replied; “I’m use to getting up,”

There is a lot Vanderburg likes about his job. “I like plowing. I like helping people out by keeping the roads clear,” he said.

After so many years on the road, weather is never far from Vanderburg’s mind.

“I like snow, but those ice storms, I hate them,” he said. It was during one ice storm that he couldn’t stop his plow truck, which went over a snow bank and almost rolled over.

While he has many memories, good and bad, about his time behind the wheel for the Road Commission, Vanderburg said one of the worst was the winter of 1977-78. Before, during and after the famed Blizzard of ‘78, Vanderburg and his fellow plow drivers worked four weeks straight without a day off.

“We just got pounded with snow and bitter cold. I didn’t see a lot of Dale at that time,” Martha Vanderburg said.

Vanderburg won’t miss traffic control for road work. “Standing out there, in the heat, flagging cars, it’s not fun,” he said.

He’s worked through a lot changes within the Road Commission. When he started there were 60 or more workers employed by the commission. Now there is 30-34 depending on the season.

Vanderburg has appreciated having updated equipment to use.

“The trucks we have today are a lot better than what we had when I started. You can get a lot more done and it’s more comfortable,” he said.

Martha Vanderburg said Dale is particular about his truck. “He doesn’t like to stay home when he is sick because he worries about someone taking his truck. He keeps it very clean on the inside and gets upset when someone else has used it and leaves papers or food wrappers in it,” she said.

Vanderburg smiled as Martha described his penchant for cleanliness.

He’ll also miss his fellow workers. “I’ve worked with a pretty good group of guys since I started there. Bill Egler, Tom (Herman), John Schaub, Bill Herman, all good guys,” he said.
Retirement will offer a chance for Vanderburg to slow down — or not.

“Oh, he’s going to be watching the grand kids tomorrow,” Martha said.

Vanderburg simply smiled again at his wife.