Gordon Sonny A. Van De Hey Jr.

Gordon “Sonny” Van De Hey, age 73, passed away on March 9, 2013, at Prairie Homes Elder Services, LLC, of cardiac arrest. He was born on April 15, 1939 in Hollandtown, Wisconsin, the only child of Gordon and Margaret (Otte) Van De Hey. When he was two years old they moved to a farm in rural Menasha (Lake View Dairy). He farmed all his life alongside his parents. As a child he attended a rural one room school in the Town of Harrison, the Little Beecher School and St. Mary in Menasha.

On June 10, 1961 he married the love of his life Verona Orlando at St. Mary Catholic Church in Crivitz. They were married for 51 years. Their marriage was blessed with two children: Vickie Ann and Chester David. Besides being a farmer his greatest joy in life was in February when he could go sturgeon fishing. He collected anything with eagles and antique tractors. He belonged to Fox Valley 2 Cylinder Club, the Chilton Steam Engine Club and a member of the Lake Park Sportsman’s Club. His greatest joy in life was the Harrison Volunteer Fire Department Number 2, which he was in for 43 years, he was also the Fire Chief for 16 years.

Sonny is survived by his wife, Verona, daughter Vickie (Tom Patterson) of Larsen, son Chester (Terri Green) of Menasha, granddaughter Ashley (Nick) Kiley of Menasha, grandson Travis (Alissa) Murray of Winneconne; six very wonderful great-grandchildren: Aubrey, Noah and Jamison Kiley, Hayden, Graycen, and Owen Murray. Other survivors include his in laws: Floyd Orlando of Oconto, Valentine Sikowski of Crivitz, Beverly Vande Hey of De Pere, Eunice Subert of Crivitz and Carl Rogaczewski of Marinette. A very special Godchild Lisa Vande Hey of De Pere and a very special cousin Patsy Maes of Darboy. He was preceded in death by a very special granddaughter Amanda Marie Van De Hey (who was his Angel) and one son-in-law Joe Sarnowski, his parents, grandparents: Adolf and Anne (Berghuis) Otte (which was his Godparents) and Henry and Patronella (Kerkhoff) Vande Hey, mother-in-law Florence (Rymer) Orlando, in-laws: Ileen Sikowski, Hilary Vande Hey, Marvin Subert and Patsy Rogaczewski.

Funeral Liturgy will take place at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 12, 2013, at St. Mary Catholic Church, 528 Second Street, Menasha, with Father Paul Paider officiating. Friends and family may visit at Martens-Laemmrich Funeral Home, 312 Milwaukee Street, on Monday, March 11, 2013, from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and also on Tuesday at the CHURCH from 9:30 a.m. until the time of mass. Interment will take place at Holy Angels Catholic Cemetery in Darboy. In lieu of flowers a memorial is being established.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Prairie Homes House of Faith Staff, Heartland Hospice and Heartland Rehab for everything they did for Gordon and the family in the month that he was in your care. Your kindness will never be forgotten.