Dad received his personal invitation to Jesus's birthday!

Roger J. Hermsen, age 79 of Little Chute passed away peacefully with his family by his side at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center--Appleton on Thursday, December 23, 2021, following a 20-day battle with COVID. He was born in Little Chute on June 26, 1942, to the late Jack and Delia (Janssen) Hermsen. He was the baby of nine children and very loved and cared for by his older brothers and sisters.

Dad married his high school sweetheart, Pat Romenesko, at St. John's Catholic Church on January 28, 1963, and was blessed to spend the next 58 years with her. He joined the US Navy and proudly served 4 years during the Vietnam era before moving back home to Little Chute to raise his family. Following a 27-year career at Appleton Paper's, dad felt God calling him down a different career path. In 1992 mom and dad began working at Rawhide Boy's Ranch in New London, WI, without realizing they would actually receive a paycheck. They truly believed this was the mission field God placed them in. During their time as house parents, they had 300+ boys come through their home. Mom and dad loved each of their boys, and staff, as if they were part of our family. Retiring after 18 years in 2010, allowed them time to do what they loved most, spending time with their family and attending school and sporting events of their grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Dad's greatest pride and joy was his faith and family. He loved our mom with his whole heart right up until his last breath. He was a kind, compassionate, loving man of God who looked to God and trusted Him for every decision he made. He prayed for us and with us when we needed it most, and when we did not realize we needed it. Dad had a special relationship with each of us kids, his grandchildren, and his great-grandchildren. Before meeting Jesus, he was able to tell each of us how much he loved us and how proud he was of each of us. We are truly blessed to have dad for all the years God allowed us to have with him.

Dad is survived by our mother Pat; his children:  Carla (Dave) Frieders, Hortonville; Chris Gonzalez, Little Chute; Becky (Gene McKinney) Hermsen, Little Chute; and Paul (Julie) Hermsen, Vandenbroek; his grandchildren:  Jake (Monica) Smith, Hannah (Wes) Hietpas, Maggie (fiancé Nick Fischer) Smith, Sarah (fiancé Alex Baumann) Smith, Ryan (fiancé Courtney Meehan) Frieders, Anna (Anthony) Keller, Katie (Zach) Cantie, Lizzy (Danny) Van Groll, Zach (Ali) Vanevenhoven, Neko (Regan) Vanevenhoven, Julious Gonzalez, Halie Hermsen, Aubrie (Ethan Vander Zanden) Hermsen, Lexie Hermsen, and Jaden Hermsen; his great grandchildren:  Madelyn Mayo, Delia and Max Hietpas, Shay and Sutton Keller, August Cantie, Lydia Frieders, Nathan, Liam, Owen, and Gracie Van Groll, Lucy and Chloe Vanevenhoven, Nayvie Vanevenhoven, Sylas Garcia, Aaliyah Brown, Alani and Corbin Navarjo; his siblings:  Reggie Hermsen, Joanie Milhaupt, Audrey Pire, Laurie Staniak, Jeanie Hermus, and Don (Diane) Hermsen; and his brothers and sisters-in-law:  Bill Romenesko, Betty (Matt) Hupfer, Gary (Adele) Romenesko, and Roseanne Romenesko.

In addition to his parents, dad was preceded in death by his grandson, Nathanial Smith; his siblings:  Gladys (Art) Schmidt and Lois (Tom) Knutsen; his father and mother-in-law, Joe and Barb Romenesko; and his brothers and sisters-in-law:  Nancy Hermsen, Larry Milhaupt, Bill Pire, Tom Staniak, Rudy Hermus, Celine Romenesko, Maynard Romenesko, Wes (Agnes) Romenesko, and Dan (Gerry) Romenesko.

Please join us in celebrating dad's life and love on Wednesday, December 29, 2021, at CHRIST THE ROCK COMMUNITY CHURCH (W6254 Hwy. 10 114, Menasha). Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. until time of the service at 12:00 Noon with Pastor David Vande Hey officiating. The Jacob Coppus American Legion Post 258 will conduct military honors immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, please consider a charitable donation to an organization close to dad's heart: Life Promotions, Rawhide Boys Ranch, or an organization dear to you.