Driessen, Leo

1917 - 2014  (96 years)    Has 24 ancestors and 9 descendants in this family tree.

• Name	Driessen, Leo
  Born	17 May 1917	Kaukauna, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA
  Gender	Male
  Education - High School	1935	Kaukauna, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA
  Kaukauna High School Class of 1935
  Died	15 Feb 2014	Kaukauna, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA
  Obituary	18 Feb 2014
  Appleton Post Crescent
  Age 96, died peacefully on February 15, 2014, surrounded by family and close friends, in the same Kaukauna, Wisconsin home in which he was born and resided his entire life, except during his Army service in the Pacific during World War II. Born May 17, 1917 to Edward G. and Lucy King Driessen, his graduation from Kaukauna High School in 1935 was followed by employment never farther from his front door than one block: short order cook, banker, co-owner of a hardware store and, finally, joined the Wisconsin Gas Company from which he retired as District Manager in 1982. Wed to Frances Hopfensperger in 1946, she preceded him in death in 2004. Also preceding him was a son, Christopher along with his seven siblings and their spouses: Everett (Julia), Quentin (Helen), Lozelle (Jule) Schommer, Margaret (Ronald) Reetz, Robert (Marion), Norbert "Nub" (Ann), Floyd (Marian). Leo was a true Renaissance man who never stopped learning through voracious reading and constant involvement in activities. Where modern technology is concerned, Leo learned the basics of email and the internet but, generally, left those to his grandchildren. Beyond being an exceptional carpenter, renovating 119 Doty Street throughout his life, he was an expert gardener and soup maker. Serving nearly 3 years of WWII in the Pacific, honorably discharged in 1946, and later joining the Army Reserves, he retired from the Army in 1967 at the rank of Command Sergeant Major. Prior to his 1982 retirement from Wisconsin Gas Company (now WE Energy)he taught himself the art of wood carving and, over the subsequent years, created a multitude of stunning works of art that continue to enhance the beauty of churches, libraries, city halls, and businesses and homes throughout Wisconsin and beyond. He was able to enjoy his woodworking into his 95th year. Following his retirement as district manager for the Wisconsin Gas Company, Leo became heavily involved in "his" community and hometown. Along with his friend and fellow retiree, Marvin Schumacher, Leo enlisted the skills and aid of a group of other retirees who built the first story of our current Kaukauna Chamber of Commerce. Beyond that, Mr. Driessen was instrumental in the establishment of part one of Kaukauna's Industrial Park, promoting it and encouraging businesses to relocate to the area. Leo helped raise funds for a number of projects in Kaukauna including Kaukauna's Friends and Family sculpture garden and the KHS's Galloping Ghost bronze. Along with his good friend Oscar Boldt, Leo was a founding member of the Fox Valley Community Foundation and, in his spare time, pursued a newfound love of opera. Devoted to family, community and country, he was active in Rotary International for 45 years, served on the Kaukauna School Board and several hospital boards, while lovingly conveying his passions and skills to his children and grandchildren. Leo eagerly embraced life and all the opportunities and challenges it offered, accepted difficulties and painful losses, and epitomized his belief that people don't stop playing, working and learning because they get old, they get old because they stop. The family offers heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Jack Meyer for his many years of doctoring and befriending Leo, as well as Bright Star Home Care whose loving assistance allowed Leo to remain in his home for the last eight months of his life--dying where he'd been born 96 9/12 years ago--in particular Carol Brauer and aides, Michelle, Ina, Diane and Shantal. We also extend our gratitude to Affinity Visiting Nurses and Hospice, for all their help over the last 2 months of Leo's life, especially the PT, OT and volunteer staff, Social Workers and RNs especially Shelly, Tracy, Barbie, and Cass; dear friends Tom Nelson and Mike Weaver - who is Senior Ride Captain for the Patriot Guard Riders. A memorial service for Leo will be held at 6:00 PM on Friday, February 21, 2014 at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Kaukauna, with a reception to follow. Family and friends are invited to gather at the church on Friday afternoon beginning at 4:00 PM.
  Person ID	I72303	1FamilyTree | AnnSchwarzHeiman85709
  Last Modified	24 Apr 2016

  
  

  Father	Driessen, Edward George,   b. 20 Oct 1875, Buchanan, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA ,   d. 11 Apr 1966, Kaukauna, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA  (Age 90 years)
  Mother	King, Lucy,   b. 9 Mar 1880, Hilbert, Calumet, Wisconsin, USA ,   d. 3 Jul 1973, Kaukauna, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA  (Age 93 years)
  Family ID	F14296	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Hopfensperger, Frances J.,   b. 12 Jun 1921, Appleton, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA ,   d. 7 Jun 2004, Kaukauna, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA  (Age 82 years)
  Married	16 Feb 1946	Appleton, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA
  Children	+ 1. Driessen, Paul + 2. Driessen, Joseph   3. Driessen, Jane   4. Driessen, Andrea   5. Driessen, Christopher L.,   b. 20 Oct 1949, Kaukauna, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA ,   d. 13 Sep 1997, Appleton, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA  (Age 47 years)
  Last Modified	1 May 2010
  Family ID	F23296	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map	Load the map	Born - 17 May 1917 - Kaukauna, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA Education - High School - 1935 - Kaukauna, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA Married - 16 Feb 1946 - Appleton, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA Died - 15 Feb 2014 - Kaukauna, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

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