In Memory Of
Dennis J. Gonering
1928
2017
Dennis J. Gonering
January 15, 1928 — December 17, 2017
Dennis Joseph Gonering, 89, passed away on December 17, 2017, with his family by his side after a long battle with Alzheimer's Disease.
Dennis was born in Sheboygan, WI, on January 15, 1928, to the late Joseph and Elizabeth (Eberhardy) Gonering. He enjoyed childhood with four brothers and two sisters. Following his graduation from Sheboygan North High School in 1946, he joined the army and was stationed in Korea during World War II. After the war, Dennis met Mary Muhs during the mortgage burning picnic at St. Dominic Catholic Church in Sheboygan, and it was love at first sight. The two were wed on April 29, 1950. They had their first son, Joseph, one year later and their second, David, the following year. While 'the boys' were little, the family enjoyed many camping trips. Dennis and Mary were franchisees of a Dairy Queen in Stevens Point before moving back to Sheboygan, where Dennis joined Plymouth Industrial Products in September of 1953. A few years later, Dennis and Mary were thrilled when their daughters, Monica and then Denise, were born. Dennis and Mary continued to travel with their children and particularly enjoyed travelling to Yellowknife in the Northwest Territory as well as other trips to Canada to camp, fish, and canoe. Dennis and Mary were also able to vacation together in Hawaii and remember that trip fondly. Dennis and Mary were Catholic Youth Organization leaders at Immaculate Conception Church from the mid '60s to the mid '70s. They felt honored to lead a group of sixteen CYO high schoolers on a canoe trip to the Boundary Waters.
Dennis was self-taught in the plastics industry. He had many professional achievements and was appointed general manager of Ametek's Plymouth Plastics Division after serving as technical director and assistant general manager of the division. Upon his retirement from Ametek, he enjoyed working as an active partner at G & L Sports Plaza. Dennis and Mary moved to Phelps in the late '80s and then back to Sheboygan in the early '90s, where they worked together at Walmart. In 2010, Dennis and Mary moved to Green Bay and then to Birch Creek Assisted Living in De Pere in 2014.
Among many things, Dennis will be remembered for his sweet tooth and love of ice cream. He was a talented baker and frequently shared his cookies and pretzels with family, friends, and coworkers. Dennis was the kind of person that would always help someone in need. Additionally, he enjoyed painting, fishing, reading, making puzzles, and spending time with his wife, children, and grandchildren, making memories that his family will cherish forever. In his life, he was also able to achieve his dream of travelling to Alaska.
Dennis is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Mary Gonering; three children, Joseph Gonering of Sheboygan, Monica Potts of Green Bay, and Denise (Stash) Petek of Sheboygan; eight grandchildren, Andrew Gonering and Judson Gonering of Lawrence, KS, Jaclyn (Paul) Novak of Sheboygan Falls, Jeanie (Jason) Angel of Sheboygan, Cassandra (Stephen) Inman of De Pere, Dennis Gonering of Sheboygan, Ethan Potts of Green Bay, and Chelsie Petek of Sheboygan; five great-grandchildren, Kayleigh, Colton, Tommy, Parker, and Rory; his sister, Dorothy (Roger) Ott, of Sheboygan Falls; his brother, Francis (Karen) Gonering, of Naples, FL; his sister-in-law, Vicky Gonering, of Lac du Flambeau; and many nieces and nephews. Dennis was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Loretta, Eugene, Harold, and John; his son-in-law, Jerome Potts; and most recently, his son, David.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Dennis will be held at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 2771 Oakwood Drive, Green Bay, where Dennis and Mary were members after moving to Green Bay. Friends may call at the church from 10-11 a.m. on Thursday, December 28th. Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m., and friends are welcome to join the family afterward for lunch at the church to celebrate Dennis's life. Inurnment at Woodlawn Cemetery will be held for the family following the service. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Association or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Birch Creek Assisted Living and Heartland Hospice for the care provided to Dennis; they are especially grateful that Dennis and Mary were able to stay together at Birch Creek as they were always inseparable.
Dennis was born in Sheboygan, WI, on January 15, 1928, to the late Joseph and Elizabeth (Eberhardy) Gonering. He enjoyed childhood with four brothers and two sisters. Following his graduation from Sheboygan North High School in 1946, he joined the army and was stationed in Korea during World War II. After the war, Dennis met Mary Muhs during the mortgage burning picnic at St. Dominic Catholic Church in Sheboygan, and it was love at first sight. The two were wed on April 29, 1950. They had their first son, Joseph, one year later and their second, David, the following year. While 'the boys' were little, the family enjoyed many camping trips. Dennis and Mary were franchisees of a Dairy Queen in Stevens Point before moving back to Sheboygan, where Dennis joined Plymouth Industrial Products in September of 1953. A few years later, Dennis and Mary were thrilled when their daughters, Monica and then Denise, were born. Dennis and Mary continued to travel with their children and particularly enjoyed travelling to Yellowknife in the Northwest Territory as well as other trips to Canada to camp, fish, and canoe. Dennis and Mary were also able to vacation together in Hawaii and remember that trip fondly. Dennis and Mary were Catholic Youth Organization leaders at Immaculate Conception Church from the mid '60s to the mid '70s. They felt honored to lead a group of sixteen CYO high schoolers on a canoe trip to the Boundary Waters.
Dennis was self-taught in the plastics industry. He had many professional achievements and was appointed general manager of Ametek's Plymouth Plastics Division after serving as technical director and assistant general manager of the division. Upon his retirement from Ametek, he enjoyed working as an active partner at G & L Sports Plaza. Dennis and Mary moved to Phelps in the late '80s and then back to Sheboygan in the early '90s, where they worked together at Walmart. In 2010, Dennis and Mary moved to Green Bay and then to Birch Creek Assisted Living in De Pere in 2014.
Among many things, Dennis will be remembered for his sweet tooth and love of ice cream. He was a talented baker and frequently shared his cookies and pretzels with family, friends, and coworkers. Dennis was the kind of person that would always help someone in need. Additionally, he enjoyed painting, fishing, reading, making puzzles, and spending time with his wife, children, and grandchildren, making memories that his family will cherish forever. In his life, he was also able to achieve his dream of travelling to Alaska.
Dennis is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Mary Gonering; three children, Joseph Gonering of Sheboygan, Monica Potts of Green Bay, and Denise (Stash) Petek of Sheboygan; eight grandchildren, Andrew Gonering and Judson Gonering of Lawrence, KS, Jaclyn (Paul) Novak of Sheboygan Falls, Jeanie (Jason) Angel of Sheboygan, Cassandra (Stephen) Inman of De Pere, Dennis Gonering of Sheboygan, Ethan Potts of Green Bay, and Chelsie Petek of Sheboygan; five great-grandchildren, Kayleigh, Colton, Tommy, Parker, and Rory; his sister, Dorothy (Roger) Ott, of Sheboygan Falls; his brother, Francis (Karen) Gonering, of Naples, FL; his sister-in-law, Vicky Gonering, of Lac du Flambeau; and many nieces and nephews. Dennis was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Loretta, Eugene, Harold, and John; his son-in-law, Jerome Potts; and most recently, his son, David.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Dennis will be held at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 2771 Oakwood Drive, Green Bay, where Dennis and Mary were members after moving to Green Bay. Friends may call at the church from 10-11 a.m. on Thursday, December 28th. Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m., and friends are welcome to join the family afterward for lunch at the church to celebrate Dennis's life. Inurnment at Woodlawn Cemetery will be held for the family following the service. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Association or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Birch Creek Assisted Living and Heartland Hospice for the care provided to Dennis; they are especially grateful that Dennis and Mary were able to stay together at Birch Creek as they were always inseparable.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Dennis J. Gonering, please visit our flower store.
Guestbook
Visits: 3
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors