Lillian J. Van Wychen

Lillian Johanna Van Wychen, age 100, passed away on Sunday, October 29, 2023 at St. Paul Elder Services in Kaukauna. Lillian was born on November 14, 1922 in Kaukauna, daughter of the late John (Jack) and Rose (Green) Van Hoof. On June 4, 1946, she was united in marriage to Anthony “Tony” Van Wychen at St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Freedom; they celebrated 70 years of marriage together before Tony passed away.  

Lillian grew up on her family’s farm in Freedom and worked at St. Elizabeth Hospital as an Aide on the maternity floor and then at Zwicker Knitting Mill where she finished the tops of gloves for soldiers.

At heart, Lillian was a caretaker. She raised her own five children, watched after nieces, nephews and grandchildren and cared for her parents and her brother, Donny, as they got older. Lillian taught her grandchildren how to play Sheepshead. She spent a lot of time with her grandchildren when they were ‘Up North’ at her and Tony’s cottage on Crooked Lake. She liked to have parties with them while the rest of the adults were out fishing. A party, for Lillian, was sharing a can of root beer and a candy bar while playing cards. The grandchildren always looked forward to Grandma Lillian’s parties.

Lillian was a devout Catholic and went to mass daily. She and Tony often sung in the choir and helped with many funeral masses at Holy Cross in Kaukauna. She lived faithfully every day of her life and died with a rosary in her hand.

Lillian will be lovingly remembered by her children, Donna (Ken) Lopas, Combined Locks, Joan (Jay) Weiland, Fond du Lac, Dan (Mary) Van Wychen, Wisconsin Rapids, Mike (Jean) Van Wychen, Kaukauna, and Jeff (Kathleen) Van Wychen, Minneapolis. She will be forever cherished by her 11 grandchildren: Bob, Lori, Kim, Corri, Erin, Brad, Katie, Brian, Kevin, Mark and Adam and her 16 great grandchildren.

She is survived by her sister, Marion Ragen, and her sister-in-law, Liz Van Hoof.

In addition to her parents, mother and father-in-law, Henry and Anna (Stiltjes) Van Wychen and husband Tony Van Wychen, she was preceded in death by an infant sister, Therese, her brothers, Joe (Cathy) Van Hoof, Don Van Hoof, Norbert Van Hoof, and sister, Ann (Larry) De Coster, brothers-in-law, Ronald ‘Red’ Ragen, Peter (Hattie) Van Wychen, Norbert (Eileen) Van Wychen, John (Hattie) Van Wychen,  Jerry (Edna) Van Wychen, Rich (Betty) Van Wychen,  Bill (Bernice) Van Wychen, and Melvin (Millie) Van Wychen.

The family wishes to extend their deepest gratitude to St. Paul Elder Services; Manor Care and Poppy Path for their loving care of Lillian.

Friends and family may call at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Kaukauna on Friday, November 3, 2023, from 10:00 AM until the time of the funeral liturgy at 11:00 AM. Burial will take place at Holy Cross Cemetery. In lieu of memorials, please make donations to: Holy Cross Catholic Church in Kaukauna.