Gerald "Junior" Gerrits

Gerald A. “Junior” Gerrits, Jr., 79, Greenleaf, passed away Monday, July 8, 2013 at Appleton Medical Center, following a brief illness. He was born October 29, 1933 on the family farm in the Town of Wrightstown, son of the late Gerald Sr. and Leona (Geurts) Gerrits. He graduated from Wrightstown High School and served his country in the United States Army from 1954 to 1956. He married Mary Jane Hutjens on June 10, 1959 at Old St. Joe’s Catholic Church in De Pere. He worked as a Master Ink Mixer for Thilmany Paper Co. for over 40 years, retiring in 1995. For the past 15 years, Junior worked part-time at Equity Livestock in Reedsville. He was a lifelong, active member of St. Paul Catholic Church in Wrightstown, where he served as an usher, sang in the choir, and was president of the school board for the church. Junior was a member of the Wrightstown American Legion, where he was Past Commander and worked for their annual Christmas program. He enjoyed duck hunting, fishing, playing cribbage, watching the Packers and Brewers, and was a hobby farmer. He will be deeply missed by his loving wife of 54 years, Mary Jane; five children: Paul Gerrits, Dennis (Gabriela) Gerrits, Karen Bates, Julie (Jim) Feest, and Mark (Samantha) Gerrits; ten grandchildren: Dennis Jr., Daniel, Alyssa, Matthew, Allison, Brooke, Benjamin, Aubrey, Mariana, Fernanda; two great-grandchildren, Alekzander and Michael; brother, Roger Gerrits; sisters, Delores Kettenhofen and Norma Buechler; Mary Jane’s family: Paul Schuette, Bonnie (Rick) Kolocheski, Marlene (Juan) Gonzales, Jerry Hutjens, and Janice Hutjens; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. In addition to his parents, Gerald was preceded in death by his sister, Carol Titel; brothers-in-law, Robert Kettenhofen, Ken Buechler, Russ Titel and Jack Gerilowski; and sisters-in-law, Debbie Hutjens and Barb Schuette. Family and friends may call Friday, July 12, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. until the hour of Mass at 1:00 p.m. at St. Clare Parish- St. Paul site, Wrightstown, with Fr. Carl Meulemans officiating. Full military honors will follow the Mass. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Cotter Funeral Home, Wrightstown, is assisting the family. Online condolences may be expressed at www.cotterfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been established.