Clarence "Bud" Ardelt, age 85, a resident of Wheaton since 1957, passed peacefully Thursday, September 15, 2016, at the DuPage Convalescent Center. He was born on September 12, 1931, in Whitewater, Wisconsin to Arthur and Bessie Ardelt. Bud married Jean (Smith) in 1953. They were married 51 years until her death in 2005. He earned his BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin in 1954. He served in the US Army as a first lieutenant until 1956.

He started his career as a Mechanical Engineer designing construction equipment with International Harvester at Melrose Park in December 1956. His career lasted over 38 years and spanned 5 companies. He invented and was issued three US Patents.

Bud and Jean Ardelt moved to Wheaton in 1957. They joined First Presbyterian Church of Wheaton in 1958, where he served as a Sunday School Teacher, as a Deacon, a head usher, and a member of the church's fast pitch softball team.

Bud enjoyed target shooting his entire life. He joined the Wheaton Rifle Club in 1957. Clarence A. Ardelt won the Illinois State Gallery Championship in 1962. In any gallery tournament, his name could always be found in the top five or six places. Bud is one of ONLY two who have ever shot a 200 in our Western Rifle League competition.

Bud continued shooting in tournaments into the early 1980's, and hadn't done much competitive (other than league matches), since then. He won the 1966 Illinois Prone Championship in Milan, Illinois, and two other prone tournaments, Libertyville (1970), and Michigan City (1979). Bud had a pretty good year at Camp Perry in 1962 when he was Civilian Master Champion in the four position 50 meter competition. Bud won the Winnebago Gallery Rifle Match in Rockford in 1964, but probable his best gallery shooting was in 1974 at Elgin, when he tied a national record with a 399 in a four position, 40 shot any sight match. When Byron Putman died in 1972, Bud took over his job as secretary at the Wheaton Rifle Club and continued till 2015. He also took over the club news letter until he was relieved by Rick Riekenberg in 1976.

Bud always adored his pets: Browny (dog), Butchy (dog), Sandy (dog), Snooks (dog), Patchy (dog), Tammy (dog), Whiskers (cat), Nellie (dog), Rickie (dog), Herby (dog), and Max (dog).

Bud is survived by his six children, Kathryn (Allen) Boyer of NC, Thomas (Judy) Ardelt of AZ, Elizabeth (Robin) Schmuckal of Naperville, Janet Minton of Wheaton, Margaret Ardelt of Wheaton, and Cynthia (Tim) Loest of Wheaton; his thirteen grandchildren, Steven Boyer, Matt Boyer, Ryan Ardelt, Elizabeth Ardelt, Lauren Ardelt, Amy (Arick) Sabin, Colleen Schmuckal, Peter Schmuckal (Allie Andrew), Diana Schmuckal, Michelle Minton, Chrissy (Matt Gunn) Minton, Stefan Loest, and Soren Loest.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Jean Ardelt and his parents.

A visitation will be held on Friday, September 23, 2016 from 4-8 p.m. at Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Main St., in Wheaton, IL. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, September 24, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Wheaton , 715 N. Carlton Avenue, in Wheaton, IL. Interment will follow at Wheaton Cemetery in Wheaton, IL.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the DuPage Convalescent Center , 400 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL 60187.