Leroy J. Rukamp

 Leroy J. Rukamp, age 73 of Greenleaf, passed away peacefully into the arms of Jesus, on Wednesday, August 7, 2024. He was born in Green Bay to the late Clement and Georgina (Vanden Langenberg) Rukamp on August 17, 1950. On August 18, 1973, he married Diane Cavil at St. Paul Catholic Church in Wrightstown. Leroy was a dairy farmer for most of his life. He also worked as a construction worker, in the armored truck business as a driver and a messenger, and one of his favorite jobs was making and tasting the ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery with his wife Diane. Leroy enjoyed playing cards, especially Cribbage, Sheepshead and Hand & Foot. He also loved taking care of the animals on his hobby farm. His faith was strong and was a very important part of his life. Spending time with his family was what he most enjoyed. He not only helped raise his own kids, but also some of their kids’ friends, as well as some of Diane and Leroy’s nieces and nephews, and their own grandkids. If you were around you were expected to help with house and barn chores, and everyone happily did. Leroy will be missed and forever loved by his family and friends.

He is survived by his wife, Diane, children; Brian (Karrie), David (Jodie), Christopher (fiancée Hannah Kent) and Stephanie (Nick) Bartosch, grandchildren; Alyssa, Samantha, Tyler, Derek, Miranda, Grace, Dawson, Tracy, Zoe, Lillianna and Allison. Leroy is further survived by his siblings; Shirley Baye, Betty Daul, Dorothy Thompson and Dennis (Mary Kaye) Rukamp, brothers and sisters in law; Anita (Leo) Kerkhoff, Doris Cavil, Mary Hockers, June (Steve) Schuchart, Betty (Tom) Rottier and Jerry (Norma) Cavil as well as many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Preceding him in death are his parents, brothers; Cletus Rukamp, Clarence Rukamp, Jerome Rukamp brothers in law, Richard Cavil and Randall Cavil and mother and father in law, David and Dorothy (Keyser) Cavil. 

Family and friends may gather on Friday, August 16, 2024, at Cotter Funeral Home, 860 N. Webster Ave, De Pere from 3:00pm until 7:00pm, with a prayer service to follow at 7:00pm. Visitation will continue on Saturday, August 17, 2024, at St. Clare Parish-St. Mary site, 2218 Day St., Greenleaf from 9:00am until 10:45am with the Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 11:00am. Burial will take place at the church cemetery immediately following the Mass. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Leroy’s name can be made to Right to Life.

The family wishes to thank the nurses, doctors and staff of UW Health, Bellin Rehab and Unity Hospice for the kindness you showed to Leroy and the whole family.