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- Leo J. Gerrits, age 86, of Hollandtown died November 2, 2017, at St Paul Hospice, Kaukauna. He was surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Kaukauna, WI on March 14, 1931 to the late Joseph and Agnes (Meulemans) Gerrits.
Leo served in the Army as a cook in the Korean War, October 1951 to August 1953. He married Lillian Hendricks October 1, 1953 at St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church, Little Chute and they enjoyed 62 years of marriage. Most of his life, Leo farmed at the Gerrits Homestead in Hollandtown. Prior to farming he worked at the Thilmany Mill and during the early farming years, he hauled milk for White Clover Dairy. He was a member of Urban Klister American Legion Post 436 in Wrightstown, a Volunteer Fireman for the Hollandtown Fireman Department, and a member of the Countryside Snow Riders Snowmobile Club.
Anyone who knew Leo, knew he was very social and took much joy from visiting and chatting with family and friends. This served him well when he volunteered at the St. Paul Home, where his kindness touched the lives of many people. With his wife Lillian, he was in a Bowling league for many years at Van Abel's, played Sheephead with their card club each month, and loved getting together with the Homemakers Club. They both enjoyed spending time with their many friends and Leo loved to go "Windshield Farming," just driving around seeing all the crops and beautiful family farms. He enjoyed the "siblings" lunch each Friday at noon at Van Abel's where Leo and his sister, Eunice, and brothers, Fritz and Jerome Schmidt gathered to enjoy each other's company along with other family and friends.
The kindness and patience he devoted to his wife Lillian during her failing health was a true tribute to his love and commitment to his family.
He was blessed to find love and companionship again when he married Marian Nelessen on October 29, 2016 and during their short time together they had many memorable moments together with family and friends.
Leo is survived by his children: Joan (Ed) Van Dehy of Kaukauna; Jan (Ken) Donnermeyer of Kaukauna; Jeff (Julie) of Kaukauna; Joel (Deb) of Madison; Jack of Kaukauna; Jenny (Jim) Lamers of Kaukauna; and Jill (Bert) Frank of Chilton; grandchildren: Spencer, and Shaun Van Dehy, Samantha Uitenbroek; Ashley Schouten; Brian and Emily Gerrits, Jonah and Josh Gerrits; Eli, Emma and Ella Lamers; Alyssa, Addison and Afton Frank; great grandchildren: Grace and Meredith Van Dehy, Zoe Uitenbroek, Arianna and Blake Gerrits; his wife Marian Nelessen; her children Lois and Jerry Gremore and family; Mike and Julie Nelessen and family; Jane and Rick Vanden Boogart and family; and Roger and Marina Nelessen. He is further survived by his sisters- and brother-in-law: Eunice Schmidt, Mary (Le Roy) Van Asten and sister-in-law Mary Gerrits. He is further survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
In addition to Lillian and his parents, Leo was preceded in death by grandsons: Jesse Donnermeyer and Ted Gerrits; siblings: Harold Gerrits and Delores (Frank) Kerkoff; and brother-in-law, Alfred Schmidt; his wife's sisters- and brothers-in-law: Ceil (Pete Van Zeeland, Len Van De Hey) Van De Hey, Agnes (Clarence) Schreiber, Ethel (Hilary) Feldkamp, Dorothy (Mark) Kerkoff, Magdeline (Melvin) Arts, Bob Nelesson and John Hendricks; and father and mother-in-law Joseph and Elizabeth Hendricks.
Visitation will be held Sunday, November 5, 2017 at O'CONNELL FUNERAL HOME (1776 E. Main St. Little Chute) beginning at 4:00 p.m. until time of Parish Vigil Service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue Monday, November 6, 2017 at ST. KATHARINE DREXEL PARISH - ST. FRANCIS CHURCH (433 County Road CE, Hollandtown) beginning at 9:00 a.m. until time of Mass at 11:00 a.m. The Rev. Willard Van De Loo will officiate. Deacon Steve Vande Hey will assist. Military rites, conducted by the Urban Klister American Legion Post 436 will follow. Committal St. Francis Cemetery. To sign the guest book, please visit oconnellfh.com.
We would like to thank the staff at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton and St. Paul's Home Kaukauna for your care and compassion shown to our father.
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