Walter G. Willems, age 97, of Kenosha passed away on Sunday, July 16, 2017, at his residence surrounded by the love of his family.

Born on November 8, 1919, in Kenosha, he was the son of the late William and Mary (Mischo) Willems. He attended local schools.

Walter served our country in the U.S. Army serving in Gen. George Patton’s Army seeing action in Northern France, Rhineland and Normandy. He entered the Army on November 12, 1941, and was honorably discharged on July 21, 1945. He was the proud recipient of the EAME Ribbon, 3 Bronze Service Stars, and the Combat Infantry Badge. Walter was privileged to attend the honor flight when he was 93 and was an avid visitor to the Festival Food’s Hero’s Café.

On October 11, 1947, at St. Casimir Catholic Church in Kenosha, Walter was united in marriage to Helen Joann Pickos. She preceded him in death on September 3, 2012.

Walter was employed as a Maintenance Engineer with Kenosha Unified School District working at Bradford High School for 22 years. Prior to Unified, he was employed with the Simmons Corp.

Walter was a faithful member of St. Anthony Catholic Church, a former member of both the Kenosha Moose Lodge #286 and the VFW Junker Ball Post #1865. He had a passion for sports, especially golf and traveled the country golfing at different courses, bowling, ballroom dancing with his wife, baking and later in life became an accomplished cook. Walter always looked forward to the weekly outings to Sheridan Lanes to support his son’s bowling team.

Walter is survived by his daughter, Kathie Lanctot; his son, Richard (Jackie); his three loving grandchildren, Tricia (Jamie) Stuart, Matt Peters, Shauna Willems; his three great-grandchildren, Michael (Katie), Tyler (Jenny) Stuart, and Trystan Kangas; and four great-great grandchildren, McKinzie, Bronson, Murphy and Aurora Stuart. He is further survived by his brother, Leonard Willems, and his sister, Virginia Gillius.

In addition to his parents and wife, Helen Willems, he was preceded in death by three brothers, “Van”, “Red” and David Willems; two sisters, Isabelle Wendt and Gen Johnson; and his son-in-law, James Lanctot.

Walter’s family would like to extend a special thank you to Sandy DeLeon and Trystan who gave extraordinary care to Walter, as well as the Staff at Season’s Hospice, especially Gloria, Heather and Dr. Mata.

Service Info

Funeral services honoring Walter’s life will be held on Thursday, July 20, 2017. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. at St. Anthony Catholic Church, 5100 22nd Avenue. Relatives and friends are asked to meet at church for the Mass. Entombment with full military honors will follow in All Saints Mausoleum.