Gerald C. Van Lanen

Gerald "Jerry" Cyril Van Lanen, 90, passed away peacefully at Rennes Nursing Home on January 13, 2024, while surrounded by his loving family.
Jerry, born as the youngest of 14 children to Anton and Anna (Hermes) in De Pere on May 29, 1933, led a meaningful life.
Jerry attended St. Boniface Catholic Grade School and Abbot Pennings High School. Outside of school, he could be found working alongside his father and brothers on the family farm, caring for the animals, tending the fields, harvesting fruits and vegetables and contributing to his father's commercial fishing and mink ranching businesses. These early experiences shaped Jerry's love for nature.
It was at a dance hall in Green Bay where he met his beloved wife, Rose Ann (Hutjens). Following a two-year Army draft, Jerry and Rose Ann married on August 25, 1956. They were later blessed with five children.
Jerry worked at Red Owl Warehouse, where he developed many lasting friendships, before retiring for the first time at age 57. Subsequently, he worked at Walmart, which he thoroughly enjoyed before retiring for the second time.
Jerry was an avid supporter of the Packers and Brewers, and his love for the outdoors was evident as he engaged in hunting, fishing, trapping, boating, camping, golfing, snowmobiling and more. Jerry shared these passions with his wife, children and grandchildren, instilling in them a deep appreciation for nature, as well as respect and love for animals. The times he spent with his grandchildren were especially special to Jerry, and the memories he created with them will be treasured for generations.
Jerry also had a quick wit and a knack for humor that stayed with him until his last day. His adventurous spirit will forever live on in the hearts of those he touched.
He is survived by his wife, Rose Ann (Hutjens) and five children: Karen (Dennis) Mohr; Laurie (Rob Paye) Beckers and daughter Danielle (Thomas) Bacon; Bryan (Chris) Van Lanen and children Benjamin (Alex) Van Lanen and Morgan (Tyler) Caron; Pam (Dan) Nowak and children Zack (Sarah) Molnar, Houston (Maria) Molnar, and Lexie (Brady) Erickson; Neil (Kelli) Van Lanen and daughter Melissa (Tyler) Gigot; brother Lloyd (Ellen) Van Lanen and sister Dorothy Thiry. He is further survived by his great grandchildren; Robyn and Lilly Palet-Beckers and Kylie and Cora Bacon, Karla and Michael Molnar, and Emmett Gigot, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Carol Hutjens, Doris Mancheski, Janet Krautkramer, La Verne (Francis) DeCleene, Susie (Alan) Tetzlaff, and Dale Hutjens, as well as many nieces, nephews, and dear friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents, father- and mother-in-law Henry and Germaine Hutjens, grandson Jacob Van Lanen, brothers Jerome (Virginia) Van Lanen, Dick (Hazel) Van Lanen, Lawrence (Blanche) Van Lanen, Johnny Van Lanen, sisters Genevieve (Fritz) Giesler, Rachael Robillard, Marie (Bill) Smits, Loretta Hansen, Doris (Marvin) DeBruin, Lorraine (Edmund) Gersek, Jean (Darrel) Molzahn, brothers-in-law and sister-in-law Ira Thiry, Donald Hutjens, Ferdie Mancheski, Kenneth Krautkramer, and Annice (Ron) DeCleene.