Howard W. Feldkamp

Howard W. Feldkamp died peacefully at home on Monday, March 1, 2010, with his family by his side. He was born March 28, 1920, the son of the late Peter and Catherine (Lamers) Feldkamp. Howard grew up as the oldest of nine children on the family farm in rural Kaukauna until he was drafted. He was in WWII for almost three years as part of the field artillery, serving in Africa, Italy, France and Germany. It was in the German forests that he developed a love of trees that stayed with him all his life. Howard married Mary Ebben in Little Chute on October 3, 1951, and together they ran a dairy farm in the town of Buchanan. Howard is survived by Mary, wife of 58 years; eleven children: thirty one grandchildren; and fourteen great-grandchildren. He has six sons: Bill (Pat) Feldkamp, parents of Carrie (Josh) Drephal and Melissa (DJ) Gossen; Peter (Kathy) Feldkamp, parents of Michael (Jackie) and Holly (Matt); Joe (Jane) Feldkamp, parents of Stacy, Steven and Jesse; John (Kristy) Feldkamp, parents of Peter, Megan and Nicholas; Howie (Sue) Feldkamp, parents of Andy and Jenny, all from Kaukauna; and George Feldkamp, Little Chute, father of Nicole (Ben), Alysha, Josh and Edward. He also has five daughters: Sr. Theresa Feldkamp with the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity, Manitowoc, currently teaching in Cambridge, Ohio; Karen Vanevenhoven, Combined Locks, mother of Valerie (Greg), Maria (Rob) St. Aubin, Laura (Todd) Buchholz, and Paul; Anne (Jack) Van De Loo, Kaukauna, parents of Jim (Melissa), Sara (Kevin) St. John, Christy (Matt), and Jake (Reba); Mary K. (Kevin) Pankow, Readfield, parents of Ann (Peter) Weyenberg, Jean (Neil) Jack, Kate (Jamie) Colwell, Connie (Brian) and Jordan; and Margie (Tom) Krueger, Hilbert, parents of Matt and Ben. He is further survived by five sisters: Ethel (Gerald) Ebben, Greenville, Kate (Jim) Bongers, Helen (Norb) Evers, both of Little Chute, Joan (Russ) Aerts, Wrightstown, and Theresa (Jim) Ison, Florida; one sister-in-law, Irene (Jim) Diedrich, Hortonville; and four brothers-in-law: Corniel (Caroline) Ebben, Greenville, John (Rose) Ebben, and George (Rosamond) Ebben, Little Chute; and many nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Ralph and Ted Feldkamp; and his sister and her husband, Marie and Leon Bongers. Family and friends may call Wednesday, March 3, 2010 from 3:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at DeWane-Cotter Funeral Home, 711 Main St., Wrightstown, where there will be a Parish Prayer Service at the conclusion of the visitation. Visitation will continue on Thursday from 9:30 a.m. until the hour of Mass at St. Clare Parish-St. Paul Site, Wrightstown. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11:00 a.m. Thursday at church, with Msgr. John H. Schuh officiating. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Online condolences may be expressed at www.cotterfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Paul Hospice Services, 316 E. 14th St., Kaukauna, WI 54130. The family would like to sincerely thank St. Paul Hospice Services, Dr. Jack Meyer and Dr. P Gregory and staff, for all they did to help during this time.