Michael Mark "Mike" Van Ryzin

Michael Mark Van Ryzin, aged 82, passed away peacefully on Jan. 18, 2024. He battled Parkinson Disease for more than 23 years without complaint, and his family takes comfort in the thought that he can finally be at peace, freed of this burden.

Mike was born on March 19, 1941 in Appleton, Wisconsin. He graduated from Appleton West High School in 1959, attended Milwaukee Layton Art School from 1959 to1961, and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1967. He worked for more than 30 years as a Maintenance Manager at Fort Howard Paper Company in Green Bay.

During his lifetime, Mike enjoyed many active hobbies. He was an avid handball player for more than 30 years, but was forced to retire from the sport when his Parkinson’s symptoms became too severe to play. As a young father, he introduced his family to the joys of canoeing, making summer trips through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and the Sylvania Wilderness, and took them on many ski trips to Michigan's Upper Peninsula. He was a handyman, baking his own granola, canning his own pickles, refinishing furniture, and working on old cars and trucks. He owned a 1937 ton-and-a-half pickup that he used to distribute vegetables for a local organic farm and drove it in many parades in support of candidates for public office. He loved to play cards, especially cribbage and sheepshead, and played scrabble with his wife on many evenings at home.

Mike is survived by his wife of 59 years, Judy; their sons Mark, Paul (Valerie Thompson), and Kurt (Hannah Van Ryzin); grandchildren Nina, Brendan, Ila, and Hazel Van Ryzin; sisters Kathy Morrison and Judy Schmidt (Robert Schmidt) and brother Mark (Rita Van Ryzin); Judy’s siblings Susan and Jim Kroohn, Dennis and Barbara Jochman; many dear nieces and nephews and their families; and many wonderful friends and neighbors. He was preceded in death by his parents Mark and Dorothy Van Ryzin, parents-in-law Hazel and Norbert Jochman, his sister Sally Johnson, nephew Daniel Jochman, and brothers-in-law James Jochman and Angus Morrison.

Per Mike’s wishes, there will be no funeral. Mike donated his body to the Medical College of Wisconsin. A celebration of life will be held near his birthday at Newcomer funeral home on the afternoon of Saturday, March 23rd. Visitation from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.; Celebration and sharing from 4:00 to 5:00.

Michael's service will be livestreamed at the scheduled service time. Click Here to view the service.

Donations made in Mike’s name, will be forwarded by the family, to Habitat for Humanity, one of Mike’s favorite charities, to which he donated his time in retirement.