Gerald Raymond Schoepel, age 78, died Friday, November 4, 2022, in Appleton. He was born on June 7, 1944, to the late Raymond and Bernice (Kohnasky) Schoepel and graduated from Menasha High School in 1963.  Jerry worked at Banta's for 42 years, running the largest eight-color press before retirement. After retirement, he worked part-time at Resolve Specialty Products (Space Saver) on Valley Road until 2013. He married Nancy J. Van Lankvelt on November 10, 1967.

Jerry truly was a Jack of all Trades. He could build anything, able to take something apart and put back together better than it was. He was also a great boat mechanic. He loved boats his whole life, even though his dad drowned in a boating accident when he was 3 years old. If there was water, he had a boat, from childhood until the end. He loved having his boat at Menasha Marina for 20 years. The most fun was 10 years of Otto Grunski Venetian Parades, decorating the perfect rows. Jerry did Mississippi boat trips for ten years and also crossed Lake Michigan many times, staying on the Michigan side for 2 weeks. He always had a project going on and stuck to it until it was done.

Jerry is survived by his wife of almost 55 years, Nancy; his sisters, Barbara Gear and Eileen Van Toll; and Nancy's family: Gary (Mary Beth) Van Lankvelt, Gail (Mike) Berken, Vicki (Paul) Trader, and Conni (Tony) Dorin; as well as his nieces and nephews. Jerry had five fur babies that were his life: Tara, Hollie, Tarka, Molle, and now Izzy.

In addition to his mother and father, Jerry was preceded in death by his stepdad, Roland Weiss; his sister, Nancy Fuszard; and his brothers-in-law, Robert Gear and John "Bud" Van Toll.

The family will receive friends on Friday, November 18, 2022 at the Fox Crossing Community Center (1000 Valley Road, Menasha) from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.  To sign the guest book, please visit oconnellfh.com.

We want to thank our family for all their support through the many years of health issues, and our great neighbors all around us.  Also, thank you to Kathy Schneider and Eileen Van Toll for their support during Jerry's last hospitalization; Jay and Pam, Jeanne and Brian, and his friends from high school, your friendship has meant so much to us; and Doctor Maryl Johnson with UW Health – Madison.

Jerry was a shy joker, sometimes you wouldn't think he could do that.

A love that lasted for 55 years of marriage and 6 years before.