Gordon Henry Van Asten

Gordon (Gordy) Van Asten, age 95, of Little Chute, passed away on Thursday, August 14, after enduring a long and painful decline into dementia for more than a decade. While his family feels deep sorrow at his loss, there is also comfort in knowing his suffering has ended and he is now at peace in heaven, reunited with the love of his life, our Mom.

For everyone who has experienced loss, written by Jameson Arasi:

So, on the hard days, you must remind yourself:

You wouldn’t trade the love to escape the grief.

You wouldn’t erase the happiness to avoid the pain.

And you will endure a lifetime of missing,

For the privilege of having loved.

Gordy was born April 11, 1930, the first child of the late Arnold and Anna (Romenesko) Van Asten. From an early age, Dad embodied the true spirit of an entrepreneur — long before many even knew the word. Still in grade school, he boldly approached a prominent Little Chute businessman to rent a small ‘postage-stamp’ piece of land, hoping to open a stand and sell popcorn.

On May 8, 1952, Dad married the love of his life, Ramona Litscher, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in downtown Appleton. Together they shared a bond that made life richer — they laughed a little louder, cried a little softer, and lived a little stronger, always standing side by side as true partners for life.

After graduating from high school, Dad went to work at the paper mill across the river in Kimberly, but he never let go of his dream of owning a grocery store. On August 10, 1961, that dream became reality when he opened Gordy’s Red Owl on Main Steet in his hometown of Little Chute. At 5,000 square feet, it was the largest store in the area — and he never looked back. Over the next 26 years, he expanded the business many times, and in 1972 opened a second location In Kimberly, rebranding as Gordy’s Food Fair. Then, in 1987, a national grocery wholesaler made an unexpected offer to purchase the stores, and Dad accepted. While neither location continues as a supermarket today, both properties remain fully occupied and support vibrant, healthy downtowns — a lasting reflection of his vision and hard work.

“I can buy anything I want...but I can’t buy time.”

Billionaire Warren Buffett

While the official retirement age for Americans is 67 and the average life expectancy for men is 78 — a sobering reminder to cherish each and every day — Dad retired at 57 and lived to 95. He was blessed, and he made the most of those years. Dad loved to fish and hunt — and for the first time in decades, he finally had the time. He took pride in his sculpted shrubs and meticulously manicured lawn. He enjoyed countless games of Sheepshead with family and friends. His appetite for sweets of any kind was nothing short of legendary, a passion he passed on to his children. He traveled the globe — from Alaska to the Dominican Republic and many destinations in between. Yet above all, what mattered most to him was family. He lived for Mom, his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Dad will be deeply missed by his four children: Michael, Cindy (Jeff Filz), Susan (Richard Maas), Kathy (Brian Murphy); five grandchildren: Kristen (Michael Hanson), Lisa (Darrell Haney), Patrick (Maggie) Murphy, Kyle (special friend Alicia) Murphy, Tyler (Taylor) Murphy; great-grandchildren: Kathryn and Nathan Hanson, Wesley and Emma Haney, Maeve and Brigid and Nolan Murphy. Dad also celebrated many happy occasions with Mike’s lifelong close friends, Steve Tremel, Deb DeBruin and Jim Weiss.

He was preceded in death by his wife Ramona (Mona), her parents and siblings, his parents, brother Jerome (Whitey) and sister Donna. Another sister, Vonnie Natrop, survives. Whether our journey around the sun is long or short, death comes for us all. What truly matters is how we choose to spend the time we are given. While we learned much from Dad about the world of business, we learned far more about how to live a meaningful life. He was a role model of what a man could be and how a man should be — possessing quiet strength and wisdom, living his faith proudly, and teaching us, by example, the importance of generosity and care for others.

Too young to drive but old enough to run, Gordy would enlist his son Mike to follow him up and down the aisles, filling cart after cart with groceries. In the still of the night, the two of them would quietly deliver bag after bag to families in need — Dad behind the wheel of the station wagon, Mike dashing up to porches with the goods. They were never caught. On countless other occasions, when a customer came up short of cash, Dad would simply say with a smile, “Pay when you can, if you can.” From late-night deliveries to quiet acts of kindness at the checkout, Dad’s example taught a lasting lesson: the importance of giving back to others.

Dad, you will be deeply missed but live on forever in our memories.

“You fought the good fight, you finished the race, you kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7

In keeping with Dad’s wishes, a private celebration of a life well-lived was held at St. John Nepomucene, Little Chute, for family and close friends. To honor Dad’s memory, encourage and support one another.

A heartfelt thank-you to family and friends for your visits, letters, and prayers for Dad. We also wish to recognize and applaud the staff at Dimensions Living — especially Maria, Leslie and Cece — for their loving care and friendship; the attentive and dedicated staff at Primrose Memory Care — especially Cassie; and Primrose resident friend Russ. Individually and collectively, you made Dad’s final years so much easier. Truly, God places ‘angels and saints’ in our lives at just the right time.