Urban C. Gerrits

On August 8, 2026 at 1:00 AM, Urban “Urb” Calvin Gerrits left his earthly home with his family by his side and began his new life in heaven with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Urban was born on January 11, 1941 in Kaukauna, WI to Urban W. and Selma A. (Lau) Gerrits. He was the second of five siblings. He grew up on Lawe street and spent time ice skating at the park and playing touch football with his friends. He graduated from Kaukauna High School in 1958 and subsequently took classes at various tech schools. Urban married the love of his life, Gretchen Danielson in August of 1962 at Holy Cross Catholic Church. Together, they had a daughter, Lisa in 1964 and a son, Brian, in 1966, who were both their pride and joy. Urb began his career at Teckwal Corporation in Mundelein, IL, became a vice president and engineer, and retired from Hoida Lumber Company in Green Bay. While at Teckwal Corporation, he wrote several construction manuals as a teaching tool for future engineers.

Urb spent his retirement busy in his shop with numerous projects and maintaining 7 acres of land on White Lake. He had a love of trees and nature and enjoyed “just sitting in the woods”, enjoying a “good thunderstorm”, and sitting by a campfire, gazing at the star-filled evening sky. Urb loved deer hunting and looked forward to the October phone call with his hunting buddy, Dave Gerard, planning how they would get the “big one”, and occasionally, they did. One of his favorite trips was fishing for a week at Lake Brevort in the U.P. with his son, Brian. Urb was a humble man who appreciated God’s gifts of natural beauty.

Urb was a member of Most Precious Blood Catholic Church in New London and a volunteer to many, building a pier at the condos and maintaining the trail and pond, ringing the bells around Christmas for the Salvation Army, and proudly donating over 12 gallons of blood at the Community Blood Center in Appleton. It was most meaningful for him to be able to donate his pedi-paks for premature infants.

Urban was a stubborn German who loved pork roast and sauerkraut, a cold beer with Mike on the deck, and monthly poker night with his good friends at the auction house. He enjoyed a 17-day trip to Alaska with Gretchen and friends and a 3-week trip to the West Coast with Gretchen – a true bucket list event. He really treasured his time at the National Parks he visited, including the Badlands and the Redwoods.

Urb loved to play any kind of cards or cribbage and enjoyed a good laugh. His favorite movie was “Grumpy Old Men” and you could hear him roar with laughter when he watched “Weekend at Bernie’s”. He also did a mean Elvis impression.

Urban will be deeply missed by his wife of 64 years, Gretchen Gerrits; his beloved son, Brian (Peggy) Gerrits, who lovingly took care of him as his health faded; his grandchildren, Jessica Johnson and Lilly, Joe, and Tim Gerrits; his sister, Barbara DeGroot; his sisters-in-law, Diane Muskevitch, Eileen Gerrits, Cleone (Paul) Weyers, and Elda Smith; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, other extended relatives, and dear friends.

Urb is preceded in death by his beautiful daughter, Lisa Gerrits in 2018; his parents, Urban and Selma Gerrits; his siblings, JoAnne Mueller, George (Marian) Gerrits and Jerome Gerrits; and his brothers-in-law, Richard DeGroot, Lee Mueller, and Chauncey Smith.

A memorial visitation will be held for Urban from 10:00 – 11:30 AM on Saturday, August 22, 2026 at Wichmann Funeral Home, 537 N. Superior St, Appleton, WI 54911 with a memorial service to follow at 11:30 AM. Urb will be laid to rest at Highland Memorial Park in Appleton, WI on a separate day.

Our special thanks to Dr. Lisa Wilson and Chelsea, Dr. Michelle Soto and Jamie, and Dr. Ellen Wenberg, who expedited his care. Additional special thanks to all of the staff at ThedaCare At Home Hospice, especially Nikki, who always made him smile. And finally, special thanks to the staff at Bethany Home in Waupaca – a very special group of angels who made his short stay a warm, loving, and caring environment.

And now, with a wink and a thumbs up, he’s on his way to his next adventure!