Jeremy S. Janssen

On Sunday, November 3, 2019, Jeremy Janssen passed away at the young age of 39 after a courageous battle with cancer.   Jeremy was born in Little Chute, Wisconsin on March 4, 1980, to Jerry and Judy (nee Vosters) Janssen.  He graduated from Xavier High School in Appleton, Wisconsin, and went on to earn both his B.S. and M.S. in Engineering from Marquette University in Milwaukee.  He lived (and worked) in Milwaukee with the love of his life, Becky Higgins. 

Jeremy had a blue-collar sensibility and a heart of gold. He had a passion for basketball, the water, and good clean (if not relentless) fun.  A stand-out high school athlete in golf and basketball, Jeremy continued to hone his athletic skills well after high school, even while pursuing a demanding engineering degree from Marquette.  He loved the water, too, always looking for an opportunity to fish or waterski.  He had an inexplicable affinity for the Banjo Minnow, which almost undoubtedly did not contribute to as many successes on the lake as he believed.  He also had an uncanny knack for never falling while waterskiing, circling the lake until the boat ran out of gas.  His attention to detail and precision in all that he did made Jeremy an outstanding, albeit maddeningly slow, golfer and an even better engineer.  A quick wit, Jeremy was famously cheap, though his jokes never were.  His patience was unrivaled.  For instance, he could endlessly sustain a good-natured teasing, including the loving teasing of his mother (Judy). Most who know him predict he will continue to rib his mother posthumously.  He was remarkably effective as the middle sibling, torturing his younger brother (Chris) to the point of lifetime scarring, ignoring his sister’s (Heather) “suggestions” as overbearing, and quickly trying to overtake his sister’s bedroom when she moved away.  He mentored his brother in the art of breaking-and-entering when the two needed to “borrow” a Nintendo from his Aunt, Uncle, and Cousins who were away.  At least one of the family cats also found itself in the laundry chute as the result of Jeremy’s handiwork. Jeremy has been linked to a series of other crimes involving his brother and his extended Vosters family, but no one has been able to prove the connection.

He was hopelessly dedicated to his long-time love, Becky, who made him better with her fun-loving, adventurous spirit, and her determination to make the most of every moment of life.  The two shared a love of music, taking every opportunity they could to see their favorite bands in concert.  They loved to travel, mainly to warm, sunny places.  They brought the same warmth and sunshine to their nieces and nephews with fun-loving adventures, games, silly greeting cards, unhealthy treats, and general mischief that would be disapproved of by most parents. 

Jeremy was preceded in death by his grandparents, Lett and Tillie Janssen and Bill and Eunice Vosters and Art Vosters (the grandfather he knew throughout his life), his uncles Marty, Roger and Dale Vosters and Tom Janssen and his aunts Mary Ann Vosters and Mary Janssen and his nephew Brooks Casey.  He leaves behind his best friend and love of his life, Becky Higgins; his loving parents, Judy and Jerry Janssen; his older sister Heather Casey (nee Janssen), husband Tim, Jeremy’s two beloved nieces Paige and Piper and his godson Grayson; his younger brother Chris and wife Aleisha (nee Estreen); and a score of aunts, uncles, and cousins who love him dearly. 

There will be a wake at Brett Funeral Home, 2001 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, WI on Thursday, November 7, 2019 from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm.  A funeral Mass will be celebrated at Gesu Church (1145 W. Wisconsin Ave.) on Marquette University’s campus, on Friday, November 8, 2019 at 10:00 am preceded by a wake at 9:00 am.  In lieu of flowers, please send donations to SALS Recovery Houses (see salshouses.org).