Vernon Aanenson, owner and president of Old Dutch Foods Inc., whose corporate windmill logo and jingle are familiar symbols of a favorite Upper Midwest potato chip brand, died of a rare complication after surgery to repair an aneurysm in his aorta, Tuesday in Fairview-University Hospital, Minneapolis. He was 82.
He lived in Edina and is survived by his wife of 60 years, Margaret, and by sons Eric and Steve, both of Shoreview. The cause of death was complications following aneurysm repair surgery.
Aanenson, who built his organization from simple beginnings into a premier regional snack food company with sales of about $200 million last year, ''was a completely self-made man,'' according to his son Steve.
He attended Minneapolis School of Business, and worked for Onan Generator as chief financial officer before he and a partner, A.C. Eggert, bought Old Dutch from a friend in 1951. He has been chairman and president of Old Dutch since 1951
A certified public accountant, Aanenson recognized Old Dutch as a good opportunity, his son said. Aanenson bought out his partner in 1965 to become the sole owner. He moved the plant from downtown Minneapolis to its current location in Roseville and started a similar company, Old Dutch Foods Ltd., in Winnipeg.
His sons later joined him in running the company, which now employs 1,300 and has five plants in the Twin Cities area and Canada. Twin Cities locations are in Roseville and St. Anthony. Two plants are in Calgary, Alberta; one is in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Steve Aanenson said his father was ''just as comfortable quoting philosophers as he was mentally calculating return on investment.''
Les C. Kouba, wildlife artist and founder of the American Wildlife Art Gallery in Minneapolis, was a close friend of Aanenson, and designed the now-familiar Old Dutch windmill and lettering.
In addition to his wife and sons, Aanenson is survived by two grandsons, a granddaughter and one great-grandson. A third son, Gary, died in 1996.
There will be a private, family service.
He lived in Edina and is survived by his wife of 60 years, Margaret, and by sons Eric and Steve, both of Shoreview. The cause of death was complications following aneurysm repair surgery.
Aanenson, who built his organization from simple beginnings into a premier regional snack food company with sales of about $200 million last year, ''was a completely self-made man,'' according to his son Steve.
He attended Minneapolis School of Business, and worked for Onan Generator as chief financial officer before he and a partner, A.C. Eggert, bought Old Dutch from a friend in 1951. He has been chairman and president of Old Dutch since 1951
A certified public accountant, Aanenson recognized Old Dutch as a good opportunity, his son said. Aanenson bought out his partner in 1965 to become the sole owner. He moved the plant from downtown Minneapolis to its current location in Roseville and started a similar company, Old Dutch Foods Ltd., in Winnipeg.
His sons later joined him in running the company, which now employs 1,300 and has five plants in the Twin Cities area and Canada. Twin Cities locations are in Roseville and St. Anthony. Two plants are in Calgary, Alberta; one is in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Steve Aanenson said his father was ''just as comfortable quoting philosophers as he was mentally calculating return on investment.''
Les C. Kouba, wildlife artist and founder of the American Wildlife Art Gallery in Minneapolis, was a close friend of Aanenson, and designed the now-familiar Old Dutch windmill and lettering.
In addition to his wife and sons, Aanenson is survived by two grandsons, a granddaughter and one great-grandson. A third son, Gary, died in 1996.
There will be a private, family service.
Vernon Aanenson, owner and president of Old Dutch Foods Inc., whose corporate windmill logo and jingle are familiar symbols of a favorite Upper Midwest potato chip brand, died of a rare complication after surgery to repair an aneurysm in his aorta, Tuesday in Fairview-University Hospital, Minneapolis. He was 82.
He lived in Edina and is survived by his wife of 60 years, Margaret, and by sons Eric and Steve, both of Shoreview. The cause of death was complications following aneurysm repair surgery.
Aanenson, who built his organization from simple beginnings into a premier regional snack food company with sales of about $200 million last year, ''was a completely self-made man,'' according to his son Steve.
He attended Minneapolis School of Business, and worked for Onan Generator as chief financial officer before he and a partner, A.C. Eggert, bought Old Dutch from a friend in 1951. He has been chairman and president of Old Dutch since 1951
A certified public accountant, Aanenson recognized Old Dutch as a good opportunity, his son said. Aanenson bought out his partner in 1965 to become the sole owner. He moved the plant from downtown Minneapolis to its current location in Roseville and started a similar company, Old Dutch Foods Ltd., in Winnipeg.
His sons later joined him in running the company, which now employs 1,300 and has five plants in the Twin Cities area and Canada. Twin Cities locations are in Roseville and St. Anthony. Two plants are in Calgary, Alberta; one is in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Steve Aanenson said his father was ''just as comfortable quoting philosophers as he was mentally calculating return on investment.''
Les C. Kouba, wildlife artist and founder of the American Wildlife Art Gallery in Minneapolis, was a close friend of Aanenson, and designed the now-familiar Old Dutch windmill and lettering.
In addition to his wife and sons, Aanenson is survived by two grandsons, a granddaughter and one great-grandson. A third son, Gary, died in 1996.
There will be a private, family service.
He lived in Edina and is survived by his wife of 60 years, Margaret, and by sons Eric and Steve, both of Shoreview. The cause of death was complications following aneurysm repair surgery.
Aanenson, who built his organization from simple beginnings into a premier regional snack food company with sales of about $200 million last year, ''was a completely self-made man,'' according to his son Steve.
He attended Minneapolis School of Business, and worked for Onan Generator as chief financial officer before he and a partner, A.C. Eggert, bought Old Dutch from a friend in 1951. He has been chairman and president of Old Dutch since 1951
A certified public accountant, Aanenson recognized Old Dutch as a good opportunity, his son said. Aanenson bought out his partner in 1965 to become the sole owner. He moved the plant from downtown Minneapolis to its current location in Roseville and started a similar company, Old Dutch Foods Ltd., in Winnipeg.
His sons later joined him in running the company, which now employs 1,300 and has five plants in the Twin Cities area and Canada. Twin Cities locations are in Roseville and St. Anthony. Two plants are in Calgary, Alberta; one is in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Steve Aanenson said his father was ''just as comfortable quoting philosophers as he was mentally calculating return on investment.''
Les C. Kouba, wildlife artist and founder of the American Wildlife Art Gallery in Minneapolis, was a close friend of Aanenson, and designed the now-familiar Old Dutch windmill and lettering.
In addition to his wife and sons, Aanenson is survived by two grandsons, a granddaughter and one great-grandson. A third son, Gary, died in 1996.
There will be a private, family service.
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