Parents:    August Vanden Branden (1854-1936)                 Joanna Madereel (1861-1942)   Siblings:   Adolph Vanden Branden (1890-1964)                 Maria Antonetta Vanden Branden (1893-1893)                 Joseph A. Vanden Branden (1894-1970)                 Mathilda Vanden Branden (1895-1985)                 Josephine Sylvia Vanden Branden (1897-1981)   Spouse:     Minerva Rabideau   Children:  Viola Vanden Branden (1924-   )

Henry Vanden Branden was born on June 20, 1896 in De Pere, Wisconsin, the 5th child of August Vanden Branden & Joanna Madereel.  In 1900 Henry, his parents & siblings were living in a rented house in Allouez, and his father was in farming.  By 1910 the family had moved to a farm in De Pere.  Henry was more often called Hank by many who knew him.

By 1920, after World War I, Henry was no longer living with his parents.  Henry married Minerva Rabideau, and they had one daughter in 1924.  In 1927 Henry was living at 916 Delamere Avenue in Racine and by 1929 had moved to 704 Randolph and was working as a machinist.  In 1930 the family of three was living at 1003 Birch Street in Racine, Wisconsin.  Henry was employed as a mechanic at a factory while Minerva cared for their daughter at home.  In 1931 the family was still on Birch Street and Henry was working as a machinist at the Harvey Spring & Forging Company.  By 1935 the family moved to 1801 Racine Street and by 1937 to 1810 Center Street.   Sometime between 1939 and 1941 the family again moved, this time to 1333 Villa in Racine.  Between 1941 & 1943 the family moved to 1822 Hillside Drive, also in Racine where they were still living in 1947 with Henry still employed with the Harvey Spring & Forging Company. 

Sometime between 1947 and 1950 the situation for this family changed.  In 1950 they were living on 1027 Forest Street in Racine, but Henry was now working as a janitor with the Wisconsin Gas & Electric Company.  Henry's brother Adolph was also living with them at that time.  They were still living on Forest Street in 1952 (with the exception of Adolph), but Henry was now working as a janitor with the Journal-Times. 

Henry & Minerva separated around 1954 when Henry was renting at 501 Park Avenue and probably unemployed, with Minerva becoming a factory worker for Rae Mtr Corporation and renting at 2410 Thor Avenue.   In 1955 Henry was living at the YMCA at 729 Wisconsin Avenue.  In 1957 Minerva was still on Thor Avenue, but was now a bindery worker with Belle City Press.

On December 23, 1963 at 10:45 p.m. at the age of 67, while on Racine County Welfare, Henry died in St. Luke's Hospital of cancer which began as cancer of the bladder six months prior to his death.  He is buried in Holy Cross Cemetery on Highway 32 in Racine.  His gravesite is unmarked.