Go Cheetahs!

Mason is playing for the Cheetahs with Trinity's Upward Kindergarten basketball. We have been having fun at the practices and games!

January 2010

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Christmas 2009

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Unexpected trip to Green Bay

I have now scheduled a quick trip to Green Bay, WI in the height of their winter time. I have to go to REI tomorrow to stock up on layers. My dad's brother-in-law Uncle Leroy passed away this past Saturday. I will be going up to support my cousins and the extended families for the celebration of his life.

Leroy Thomas VandenBusch died peacefully at home on January 2, 2010 with family by his side. Born on December 21, 1924 in Green Bay, he is the son of the late Genevieve (Derbique) and Michael VandenBusch. Leroy joined the Navy on July 4, 1942, at the age of 17, and served aboard the USS Capps, a Fletcher-class destroyer. He recalled the day the USS Capps narrowly escaped a Japanese kamikaze attack and also talked about being in a typhoon that capsized and sank three destroyers, as well as heavily damaging numerous ships that killed over 700 sailors in his task force. The USS Capps received seven battle stars for World War II service. On November 21, 1946 Leroy began a 62 year marriage to Margaret Karn VandenBusch at St. John’s Catholic Church in Green Bay, and she preceded him in death on July 1, 2009. After serving in the US Navy, He worked as a machinist for Northwest Engineering and later part time for HC Prange’s and Montgomery Ward. After retiring from Northwest Engineering, Leroy worked part-time delivering formal wear for DuBois for 10 years. He was an avid gardener, and enjoyed staying in touch with his Navy buddies. Leroy also loved traveling to Arizona with Margaret in the winters, getting together with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, watching the birds and squirrels compete for the feeders, and collecting car memorabilia. He worked the crossword puzzle daily, was an avid reader, and never missed a Packer, Brewer, or good college football game. Leroy also never missed an opportunity to satisfy his sweet tooth.

He is survived by six children: Sherry Carlson of Paradise Valley, AZ; Ellen (Dennis) Schmidt, Mary (Tom) Barchacky and Lee VandenBusch all of Green Bay; Sharlet Messler of New Berlin; and Gary Vanden Busch of Salem, OR. He will be dearly remembered by his 12 grandchildren: Jeff Carlson of St. Cloud, MN; Jeremy (Meghan) Carlson of Dayton, OH; Tony (Cory) Schmidt of Green Bay; Jessica (Nathan) Wright of White Lake, MI; Carrie (Gerrit) Ayers of Puyallup, WA; Robin (Josh) Hemstreet of Green Bay; Amy (Mark) Mineau of Waukesha; Allyson VandenBusch of Green Bay; Kaiti (Vince) Ressman of New Berlin, WI; Jackie Messler of New Berlin; and Emma and Eleanor VandenBusch of Salem, OR.; and eleven great grandchildren: Alex, Audrey, Austin, Brittney, Claire, Ella, Jack, Kaleb, Kylie, Megan, Sawyer, and two on the way. Leroy is also survived by one sister: Carol VandenBusch; two sisters-in-laws: Alice VandenBusch and Sheri VandenBusch, both of Green Bay; one brother: Michael “Marty” VandenBusch of Huntington Beach, CA; two brothers-in-law: Patrick (Peggy) Karn of Richmond, VA and James Karn of Savannah, GA.

Leroy was preceded in death by five brothers: Herman, Carlton “Cookie”, Bernard “Bud”, John, and James “Tiger”; and three sisters: Marianne VandenBusch, Rita Younkle, and Muriel Brammer.

Visitation at Malcore (East) Funeral Home, University Ave. at Baird St., Tuesday from 4 – 8 p.m. Parish wake service 7:00 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Visitation will continue Wednesday at Resurrection Parish, 333 Hilltop Dr., from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the funeral. Funeral Mass 11:00 a.m. Wednesday at Resurrection Church with Bishop Robert Morneau officiating. Burial will be in Allouez Catholic Cemetery.

Karn Christmas Eve

We hosted the Karn Christmas Eve gathering at our house again this year. It was rather casual since we have been renovating the kitchen and it was not complete yet.

Here are some photos of the night!