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 | Floyd DeBruin Nov 20, 1942 - Feb 10, 2024
On Saturday, February 10th, Floyd DeBruin of New London, WI passed away peacefully at Ascension Mercy Hospital in Oshkosh surrounded by his family. Floyd Anthony DeBruin was born November 20th, 1942 in Appleton, WI to Joseph and Leona (Meulemans) DeBruin. On September 1st, 1962 he married Karen VanZeeland at St. John’s Catholic Church in Little Chute; they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in 2022. After graduating from Kaukauna High School in 1960, Floyd began a successful career in sales, first with the Kirby Company for many years and later with Bankers System, Inc. In his off-hours he was a die hard Cubs fan, and a very enthusiastic and slightly eccentric participant for many years at the winter Cubs convention. He was also an avid finch breeder, sheepshead player, and model railroad enthusiast, until his retirement in April of 2000 when he felt he no longer had enough time. The last two decades of Floyd’s life were instead filled with higher priorities, such as many big family get-togethers and motor home travels throughout Canada and the US. Especially memorable were the many cross-country trips with their grandchildren and the nearly twenty winters spent in Texas. Yet wherever he happened to be, Floyd was an expert at making events of everyday, mundane matters and establishing traditions with whatever means available. He will be remembered fondly for always ending errands with detours for ice cream cones, turning restaurant names into running jokes, taking “secret” bar trips with the other menfolk, and rendering even the emptying of sewage tanks an exciting, educative experience.
Floyd is survived by an extensive, devoted family: his wife, Karen (VanZeeland) DeBruin; their three children – Julie (Michael) Monfils, Patti (Mike) Kempinger, and Steve (Agustina) DeBruin; seven grandchildren – Erin (Augustine) Kamprath, Matthew (Abbie) Kempinger, Rachel (Louie) Musser, Allison Kempinger, Sarah Monfils, Stephanie DeBruin, and Sean DeBruin; and an increasing number of great-grandchildren, including John, Simeon, and Anna Kamprath; Ezra and Ophelia Kempinger; Michael Musser; and two more babies expected soon. He is also survived by sisters-in-law Alice (Bill) Ziehm, Ellen (John) Southard and Elaine VanDeHey and many nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his parents-in law, Alois and Geraldine (Gloudemans) VanZeeland, his brothers, Marvin (Jean) and Francis “Fritz” (Carol) DeBruin, and his sisters, Bernice (Benny) Hahn, Eileen (James) Johnson, and Carol (Doug) Vandenberg.
A lifelong, faithful Catholic and beloved patriarch, Floyd was always intentional about expressing his gratitude for the many blessings of his life and his love for each and every one of us. He led us in prayer at every gathering and interceded for us every day. We will never forget how hard-working, commonsensical, goofy, adventurous, grounded, wise, generous, and loyal he was. May he rest in peace, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon him.
The Mass of Christian Burial for Floyd will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 17, 2024 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Lebanon with Fr. John Kleinschmidt officiating. The visitation will take place on Friday, February 16, 2024 from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at Cline & Hanson Funeral Home in New London and again at the church on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the mass. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. |
1942 - 2024 (81 years)