Gerald J. Artz

Gerald J. Artz, age 77 of Appleton, died July 14, 2023.  He was born October 16, 1945, at St. Elizabeth Hospital, son of the late Ervin and LaVerna (Schroeder) Artz of Kaukauna.  He was a graduate of the Kaukauna High School and also served his country as a member of the United States Army during the Vietnam War.  In April of 1972 he married Darlene Massey, and together they had four daughters.  She preceded him in death, and in 2003 he married Judith Schmude, and she and her children joined the family.

A longtime member of Bethany Lutheran Church in Kaukauna, Gerald taught Sunday School there for a number of years.  He will also be remembered for his work at Miller Electric for many years. Gerald demonstrated love for his country and comrades by marching with fellow veterans in many of the area parades.  In his earlier years he received his computer training from The Herzing Insitute and taught computer languages and programming at FVTI. Jerry also loved  football and coached Pop Warner teams for many years.

In addition to his wife Judy, Jerry is survived by four daughters:

Debbie (Keith) Urban and Keith’s children: Cassandra, Wiley, and Nathan;

Dianna (Dan) Lemke and their children Dominique, Kourtney, Marlin, Danielle, and Hunter;

Jennifer (Kevin) Schiesser and their children Alina, Lizzie, and Trinity;

Sueann (Jason) Young and their children Veronica, Jacob, and Abigail.

Jerry is also survived by his dear sister, Carol Peterson of Appleton, along with many great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, all of whom loved him dearly.

Judy’s family includes her children:

Brenda (Darrell) Metoxen, and their children Jeremy (Victoria) Collin, Angel Stutleen and her friend Stanley, Nicole Cadena, Chad (Chantel), Adam, and Katie (James) 

Ricky Loret;

Children of Jeffrey Loret, Sr. (dec) Jennifer, Kayla, and Andrew; 

Renee Loret and her friend Jeff, and her daughters Crystal (friend Billy), Jessica; and sons Mark, Jr. and Jonathean;

Cheryl (Jim) Van Hoosen and her children Heather (Jay), David Jr., April, and Christopher (fiancee Sierra);

And Daniel Loret.

Jerry is also survived by one of Darlene’s brothers, Dennis (Ginger) Massey.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife Darlene, a brother-in-law Ron Peterson, and Darlene’s brothers and sisters:  Vivian (Frank) VandenBosch, Robert Massey, Ronald Helen) Massey, Leroy (Meridene) Massey, Roland (Florence) Massey, Norma (Lawrence) Bernard, and David Massey.

The Christian Funeral Service for Gerald will be held at 4:00 PM on Thursday, July 20, 2023, at Bethany Lutheran Church, located at 124 W. 10^th Street in Kaukauna, with Rev. Rod Krueger and Rev. Walter Steinbach officiating.  Burial with full military honors will take place at Highland Memorial Park on Friday morning at 10:00 AM.  Visitation will be held directly at the church on Thursday from 2:00 PM until the time of the services.