Obituary: Louann J. (Lamers) Vande Hey

Louann (Lamers) Vande Hey, 77, passed peacefully to her heavenly home on March 3, 2025, after a courageous battle with cancer. She was born on July 29, 1947, in Little Chute, to the late Tom and Dorothy (Look) Lamers. She was the oldest child and had five brothers. Early on, she assisted her Mom taking care of the family and helped her Dad, who operated Lamers Hardware and supported the Little Chute Fire Department.  

After graduating from St. John’s Catholic High School, Little Chute, in 1965, Louann worked at Acme Press. On May 30, 1968, Louann married her high school sweetheart and best friend, Wayne Vande Hey. During their 56 years of marriage, they were blessed with three children and five grandchildren. Louann happily focused on raising her children and taking care of the family. She was a loving spouse, mother, grandmother, sibling, and friend. Her faith, family and friends were so important to her.

Louann was her children’s and grandchildren’s biggest fan and attended countless activities for them. She was always so proud of their accomplishments, big or small, and was always there for them with a laugh, listening ear, or words of wisdom. She enjoyed spending time up north at the family cottage on Youngs Lake (for over 40 years), baking/cooking, quilting, playing cards (Hand and Foot, Liverpool, or Sheepshead) and going on family trips/vacations, where she always had to stop at a local shrine or church.

As her children got older and when the family lived in Brillion, she became known as the “shoe lady” when her and Wayne owned and operated Vande Hey Shoes, including selling safety shoes to The Brillion Iron Works. She then worked at H.C. Prange Company, in downtown Appleton, before joining VanderLoop Shoes, Little Chute, where she worked for many years until her retirement.

Louann genuinely loved giving back and living her faith through action. Throughout her life she was constantly volunteering, including St. Mary’s Parish, Brillion, (Christian Mothers), St. Patrick Parish, Askeaton, (Catechist and Lecturer), the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion, Champion, (Gift Shop and Café), Elizabeth Ministry, Kaukauna, (Gift Shop), and St. John Nepomucene Parish, Little Chute, (Mission Club, lunch lady, SCRIP and classroom helper).

Louann is survived by her husband, Wayne and children/grandchildren:  Jenni Vande Hey (Kaukauna) and daughter Lizzie; Greg and Barb Vande Hey (Denmark) and children Alyssa and Bret; and Julie and Joe Trzebiatowski (Combined Locks) and children Morgan and Ryan. She is also survived by her brothers (Dan/Kathy, Larry/Jolene, Ken/Nancy, and Pat/Jackie), brother-in laws (Tom/Lisa and Dale/Debbie) and sister-in laws (Lisa Lamers, Delores DeBruin and Sharon Vande Hey) and their families. She is further survived by cousins, godchildren (Pam Noffke, Sara Vande Hey, and Clare Lamers), nieces, nephews, and friends, including her St. John High School friends, the Brillion Gang, Sue/Gary Van Nuland, the Youngs Lake family/friends, Mission Club Quilters, and many others. Thanks for being such a special part of her life – she loved connecting and making memories with all of you!

She was preceded in death by her parents (Tom and Dorothy Lamers), parents-in-law (Nicholas and Wilma (Verhagen) Vande Hey), brother (Joe Lamers), sibling in-laws (Ethel Vande Hey, Gerald Vande Hey, Gene/Ethel Vande Hey, Jim DeBruin, Mel & Nancie White and Bruce Vande Hey) and many other family and friends.

A Funeral Mass for Louann will be held on Thursday, March 13, 2025, at St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church, Little Chute at 5:00 pm with visitation beginning at 2:00 pm and dinner to follow. To honor Louann and in lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion (4047 Chapel Drive, New Franken, WI), The St. John Nepomucene Mission Club (411 Vandenbroek St., Little Chute, WI) or St. Margaret of Scotland Parish (N18844 Highway 8, Pembine, WI or PO Box 235).  Thank you!

The family would like to express a special thanks to Dr. Merici Awe for her loving care and support for Louann all these years, but especially for the past 2 years. What an amazing blessing you have been to Louann and the family!

We feel blessed knowing Louann is in Heaven with our Lord and reunited with her many family members and friends. “We will always be connected by Love.”

VERKUILEN-VAN DEURZEN

FAMILY FUNERAL HOME

101 Canal Street

Little Chute 920 788 3321

www.verkuilenfh.com