Steve P. Corrigan

On January 15, 2021 Steven Patrick Corrigan (Steve) died unexpectedly from an apparent heart attack. Steve was born June 15, 1956 in Green Bay, WI to Chester (Chet) and Elizabeth (Betty Matzke) Corrigan and was the fourth of 10 children. On November 29, 1975 he married Cheryl Ann Rukamp. They had four children, Chad, Scott, Elizabeth (Beth) and Nicole (Nikki).
He grew up on the family farm that has been in the Corrigan name since 1857, making it one of the longest operating Homestead farms in Wisconsin. The farm was homesteaded by Michael Corrigan who moved from Ireland, it was then operated by Michael Corrigan Jr. until it was passed to Steve’s grandfather Patrick Corrigan, which is where Steve got his middle name. Steve was still operating as a hobby farm as well as the site of several businesses Steve started.
He started in construction as a heavy equipment operator. In 1978 Steve and his brother Don built a shed for their dad on the farm and that led to the forming of Corrigan’s Custom Built Structures (CBS) in 1979. Corrigan’s CBS has built over 1,000 buildings throughout Northeast Wisconsin and he was still operating the business. He also started Custom Components & Structures (CCS) which was sold, Eagle Fabrication, which is currently run by his son Chad (Smoothy) Corrigan. His son Scott Corrigan is running Splash Pools from the farm site. I am sure Steve would extend his appreciation to all the employees that helped make his businesses, especially Kathy Ambrosius.
The Corrigan farm is located at Kolb’s Corner, named for Peter Kolb, whose daughter Margaret was married to Steve’s great-grandfather Michael Corrigan. He helped to retain the signs that mark Kolb’s Corner as you drive through Kolb at the corner of County Highways G, V and MM. When the milk factory/butcher shop and corner bar were torn down, Steve and Don purchased the property. They built the Kolb’s Corner Saloon, patterned from experiences during many hunting trips to Wyoming, that is operating now as 21 Gun Roadhouse.
He was always interested in rural life and that led to him joining the Frontier Farmers and buying his first set of draft horses. For several years, the family would go on wagon/sleigh rides with the club or just around the neighborhood. The family, including Don and all of the boys, started Circle Star Ranch and raised Texas Longhorn cattle for many years. He also started Broken Bones Bucking Bulls to raise stock for rodeo bucking bulls. He had registered brands for both businesses based on his trips to Wyoming and seeing the brands of the ranches he hunted on.
He started Corrigan’s LaGrange Ledgestone Barn in 2008 as a destination wedding venue that hosted dozens of weddings until 2014. The family still uses the barn for family reunions, birthdays, graduations and other family events.
He helped to form and was a volunteer for the Town of De Pere Volunteer Fire Department in 1983 through 1986.
He helped with renaming the Town of De Pere to the Town of Ledgeview in 1994.
He was the Ledgeview Town Chairman for two terms. Steve and Don also donated the pavilion that is at the Ledgeview Park, dedicated to Chet and Betty Corrigan.
He collected antique tractors and exhibited them at the Brown County Fair. This led to building a track at Kolb’s Corner to host tractor and truck pulls. For many years, the pulls have benefited Syble Hopp School and several other charities.
Steve held family especially important and had 21 aunts and uncles with 78 first cousins. He always looked forward to the Corrigan and Matzke Family Reunions and many times hosted them at the family farm or the LaGrange Ledgestone barn. He always said his greatest accomplishment was being a proud grandpa and spending time with his grand kids, helping to teach them respect of their elders and develop a good work ethic. He was very proud of all their accomplishments.
He joined the Brown County Fair Board and became the President of the Fair Board. He has helped to ensure the fair continues to focus on supporting the 4H and FFA to provide a place to show their animals. He also helped bring the rodeo to the fair.
He is survived by his children Chad (Leah), Scott (Tammy), Beth (Carl) Thyes and Nikki (Matt) Zipp. He was a proud grandpa and always would tell you about his 12 grandkids, Alexis (Lexi) and Caila Corrigan, Emily, Jared, Travis, Ryan Corrigan and Lucas Giese, Taylor, Riley and Ricky Thyes, Conner Corrigan and Colton Zipp, and his ex-wife Cheryl (Rukamp) Corrigan. His brothers Bob (Sandi) and Don (Shelly) Corrigan, his sisters Nancy (Tom) Kellner, Lois Novak, Michelle (Dave) Spiering, Sheila (Mark) Steinfeldt and brother in-law Danny Thompson. He held family very important and has 17 nieces and nephews that will all miss him, as well as 15 great nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind thousands of friends, customers and business associates he has touched through his life.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Chet and Betty, and Chet’s second wife Charlotte, as well as twin brothers Joseph and John (that died shortly after birth), sister Amy and niece Stacie Thompson.
Family and friends may gather Friday, January 22, 2021 at St. Mary Catholic Church, 4805 Sportsman Dr. De Pere (Ledgeview) beginning at 8:30am until 11:15am, with the Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 11:30am, Rev. Michael Ingold officiating. The service will be livestreamed on Cotter Funeral and Cremation Care Facebook page.
Thanks to the Ledgeview Fire Department, County Rescue, St Vincent Emergency personnel and Al Matzke that worked to save Steve.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Brown County Fair Association, PO Box 472, De Pere, Wisconsin, 54115.