Ed Hermans

Ed Hermans, after giving the world one last laugh, passed away on Monday, June 5th at the age of 81. Everyone who knew Ed, loved that infectious laugh. As the oldest son of the late Peter and Lillian Hermans of Bay Settlement Wisconsin, he was born in Green Bay on March 5th, 1942. Through the years, Peter and Lillian would give Ed eleven siblings, to whom he would be a big brother and purveyor of many jokes, hijinks, and shenanigans of which legends are made. As Ed moved away from the Green Bay area and joined the Navy, he served his country by delivering babies in the medical ward of the Naval Health Clinic of the Great Lakes. Ed often joked of how the Navy let a guy from “Bay Satchamoe” hop a train with a pack of Lucky Strikes and $10 bucks and gave him a job like that.

After Ed was discharged from the Navy, he ran the Sinclair gas station on University Ave, fixing cars and making new pals. One day, he was invited to a wedding, and he met the girl whom he would spend the rest of his life with. After four dates, Ed popped the question and a few months later married Marian “Blondie” Maricque of Green Bay on November 24th 1967. Together, they had five boys and one girl (Max, Ben, Marty, Dan, John, and the “runt of the litter”, McKenzie). Shortly after Max was born, Ed saw an article in Press Gazette that the Brown County Sheriff’s office was hiring. After attending the police academy, Ed would work as a police officer, and along with his police buddies, he would keep our community safe and have a firsthand view of the history of Brown County for over 25 years.

After retiring from the force, Ed and Blondie would spend their winters in Crystal Bay Park in Palm Harbor Florida, while also taking his mom, Lillian, with them until her passing. Every spring, they came back to Wisconsin and Ed would start his day with a cup of coffee at McDonalds in De Pere to solve the world’s problems, before making his way over to De Pere’s Mount Olivet Cemetery to work as sexton maintaining the grounds, supporting burials, and continuing to ensure his community was well cared for. It was his devotion as a Catholic that pushed him to do the manual labor of taking care of those who went before him. The evenings were meant for fun. Whether hitting a supper club with Barb and Dick, taking “the boys” money at poker, convertible rides with Blondie, making his way to Maricque’s for Friday perch, or being the only man who never lost a nickel at the Oneida Casino, Ed lived life to the fullest. His greatest joy on this earth was his family, and to his last moment, he was surrounded by those who loved him, with that infectious laugh going all the way.

Ed is survived by his wife Marian “Blondie” Hermans; children: Max (Karen) Hermans, Ben (Penny) Hermans, Marty (Lisa) Hermans, Dan (Marie) Hermans, John (Tracy) Hermans, McKenzie (Rob) Cleek; grandchildren: Moriah (Clint) Rickert, Bree Cleek, Jessica Hermans, Nathan Hermans, Nick Hermans, Maxwell Hermans, Isaac Hermans, Olivia Hermans, Katie Hermans, Eli Hermans, and Ben Kubichek; siblings: Frank Hermans, Anne Tribek, Marge Wallenfang, Barb Morino , Adelle West, Peter Hermans, David (Caroline) Hermans, Mark Hermans, Mary (Dean) Duche, Michelle Hermans; sibling in-laws Jeanie Maricque, Carol (John) Bieda-Kyles, Patty Westlund, John (Pat) Maricque, Julie Bohn, and Judy Maricque.

He was preceded in death by his parents Peter and Lillian Hermans, parent in-laws Max and Marian Maricque, sister Kathy Brennan, and sibling in-laws: Bill Maricque, David “Mudd” Maricque AND in loving memory of so many others.

Wake Services will be held at Cotter Funeral Home in De Pere on Friday, June 9th from 3:00 PM until 7:00 PM, with a celebration of life to follow. Visitation will be held at St Mary’s church in De Pere on Saturday, June 10th at 9:00 am, with Catholic services to follow at 11:00 am. Burial at Mount Olivet Cemetery will commence after services are complete.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to our friend, Doctor Josh Smith, for his consistent care and support of Ed. While flowers are welcome, a Memorial Fund will also be set up in Ed’s name.