Vada June De Keyser

Vada June De Keyser, age 102, of Green Bay, WI, passed away peacefully, Thursday, February 27, 2025. She was born September 17, 1922 in Breed, WI, daughter of the late Earl and Ella (Hinkfuss) Mills.

Vada married Leonard De Keyser, January 25, 1947, in Green Bay, WI. They shared 51 years of marriage before he passed away on December 6, 1998. She married him after WWII and thought he was a very handsome soldier.

Vada’s mother passed away when she was only 13 years old. Her dad remarried Helen Hansen soon after. Vada spent her summers at her grandparent’s farm and has wonderful memories of playing with her cousins there. She was very proud of her dad, who was an engineer on a steam engine train. During WWII Vada was employed as a tacker/welder for the shipyards in Sturgeon Bay, WI working on war ships. After her job as a welder, Vada worked at a factory sewing pockets on men’s jackets. Because of her advanced sewing skills, she took on specialized sewing tasks. After the war she met Len, and they married soon after. They had 3 children. She was a lifelong Packer fan and watched the Packers play at Green Bay East High School before they played at Lambeau field. She also enjoyed cheering on her son’s football teams. As a companion, Vada had a cute little dog named Packer. She loved real country music, especially “the good stuff”. Being quite the card player, she loved to play Hand and Foot with her friends. Vada was a talented seamstress and taught her daughter how to sew as well. She traveled all over with Len. After his passing, she developed a love for cruising. She has been to every state except for Alaska. She recently lived down south near her daughter, and spent some time in Georgia and South Carolina, living in Margaritaville-Hilton Head. She loved the warm weather and driving around in a golf cart looking for alligators.

Vada is survived by her children: James (the late Sandra) De Keyser, Robert (Darcy) De Keyser and Julie (Chas) Walsh. They provided her with 13 grandchildren: Jerry (Paula) De Keyser, Robert (Charlene) De Keyser, Holly De Keyer, Brenda (John) Kuik, Shelly (Bill) McGregor, Michael De Keyser, Nicole (Lucas) Huntley, Jessica (Nick) Olp, Brian (Danielle) De Keyser, Samantha (Chris) Cassidy, Jordan (Ashley) Walsh, Andrew Walsh and Madalyn (Benjamin) Richmond. They gave her many great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. 

She is further survived by two sisters, Colette (the late Norman) Jossart and Sandra (the late John) Stuettgen.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Leonard; step-mother, Helen (Ira) LaPlant; an infant sister, Ethel Jane and brothers, James and Gary Mills.

Visitation will be held at Newcomer Chapel (340 S. Monroe Ave., Green Bay, WI), Monday, March 3, 2025 from 2 to 4 PM. A funeral service will follow at 4 PM. Entombment will be in Shrine of the Good Shepherd Mausoleum. 

Vada's family would like to express their gratitude to Angel's Touch and Moments Hospice for their care and compassion.