Joseph “Ed” DeMeuse, 85 of Sturgeon Bay, passed away at Pine Crest Village on January 30, 2023. He was born July 11, 1937, in Sturgeon Bay to Nels and Marie (Kraft) DeMeuse. On March 15, 1958, he married Diane N. Grovogel at St. Joseph’s Church in Sturgeon Bay.
Ed graduated from Sturgeon Bay High School and hauled milk for his father until he went to work for the Sturgeon Bay Utilities. He and Diane also owned and operated the Stage Road Inn from 1975 to 1985. Ed retired from the Sturgeon Bay Utilities in January of 1996.
He enjoyed following the Packers, watching Door County League Baseball, following his grandchildren’s sporting events and working in his yard. Ed was known for putting everything “on wheels” to make his life easier. Ed’s kids often remarked that he was the smartest man they knew. His favorite expression when asked how he was doing was “Top of the world.” Ed treasured his family and all the time he was able to spend with them.
Survivors include his wife Diane; 3 children, Marjorie (Jeff) Syring, Larsen, WI; Mark (Debra) DeMeuse, Sturgeon Bay; Peter (Linda) DeMeuse, Mascoutah, IL; 8 grandchildren, Chelsie (C.J.) Hardy, Francesca (fiancé, Keith) Destache, Nick Karnitz, Bruce (Lauren) Karnitz, Lacy (Russ) Austad, Cody (Lindsay) DeMeuse, Kylye (Chris) Kopp, and Krista (Cody) Brooks; 16 great-grandchildren; sister Marie Felhofer, Germantown, WI; sister-in-law Linda (Bill) Schlaak, Appleton; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded by his parents; daughter Pam Karnitz-Wiegand; infant daughter Amy; sisters, Elaine (Junior) Gilson, Mildred DeMeuse, Marian (Paul) Lovering, Joyce Hilsabeck, Rita (Ken) Delsart, brothers, Robert (Lois) DeMeuse and Donald (Marianne) DeMeuse; brother-in-law Bill Felhofer.
Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 4, 2023, at Corpus Christi Catholic Church with Rev. Ryan Krueger officiating. Entombment will be in St. Joseph Cemetery Mausoleum. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday at the Forbes Funeral Home and after 10:00 a.m. Saturday at the church until time of services. A prayer service will be held at 7:00 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. On-line condolences may be offered at forbesfuneralhome.com.
