Jerome J. Van Wychen, Kaukauna, age 90, died Sunday February 5, 2012 at Good Shepherd Nursing Home in Seymour. He was born in Freedom on May 12, 1921 to the late Henry and Anna (Stiltjes) Van Wychen. Jerome married Edna Scheibe on January 8, 1944 at St. Nicholas Parish in Freedom. They just recently celebrated 68 years of marriage. During WWII, he served for four years in the Pacific Theater as a Staff Sergeant and was a lifetime member of the Freedom VFW Post 7692. Jerome retired from the Thilmany Mill in 1983 after 38 years of service. He also enjoyed the carpentry work he did with his brother Rich. Jerome was an avid outdoorsman that loved hunting, fishing and beagling. He was a charter member of the Fox River Beagle Club.

Jerome is survived by his wife of 68 years, Edna; children: Audrey (Don) Welhouse, Kaukauna; Jeanne (Ray) Dombrowe, Stillwater, MN; Shirley Biese, DePere; Kathy (Dave) Buchinger, Darboy; Lynn (Bill) Van Abel, Lino Lakes, MI; Ron (fiancée Sharon De Laurella), Florence; Gary (Sarah), Darboy; Cheryl Kubiak, Suamico; Annette (Hussain) Alaboudy,Elkhart, IN; and Patricia (fiancé John Keegan) Newhouse, Kaukauna; 21 grandchildren: Steven (Lisa) Welhouse, Terri (Frank) Mehring, Joel Dombrowe, Erin (Chris) Reninger, Chris (fiancée Tracy Steinke) Biese, Ken (Jill), Ross (Tami) and Craig (Lisa) Buchinger, Josh (Cami), Brian (Katie) and Eric (Amy) Van Abel, Amber, Andy and Aimee Van Wychen, Chelsea and Dylan Gast, Kaitlin and Kyra Kubiak, Logan, Luke and Carly Newhouse; 13 great grandchildren: Grace, June and James Welhouse, Henry Mehring, Adelyn Van Abel, Gracie, Cade, Reese, Libby, Blake and Abby Buchinger, Lucan and Ethan Reininger; brothers: Tony (Lillian), Richard (Betty), William (Bernice) and Melvin; and sisters-in-law: Margaret Burke and Marion Brittnacher. He is further survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

In addition to his parents, Jerome was preceded in death by his son, Allan John Van Wychen; Edna's parents, George and Rose Scheibe; brothers: Peter (Hattie), Norbert (Eileen), John (Hattie) and infant Antone; and sisters and brothers-in-law: Virginia (Harvey) Haertl, Magdalene (Gordon) Kiefer, Dorothy (William) Vander Hyden, Millie Van Wychen, Jay Burke and Norbert Brittnacher.

Visitation will be held Wednesday Februay 8, 2012 at HOLY CROSS PARISH (309 Desnoyer St. Kaukauna) beginning at 9:00 a.m. until time of Mass at 11:00 a.m. The Rev. Thomas Pomeroy will officiate. Military rites conducted by the Freedom VFW Post 7692 will immediately follow. Committal Holy Cross Cemetery.

Jerome's family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at Good Shepherd for the exceptional care given.