Hugh K. Myers, a resident of Lake View Place in Fond du Lac, WI and officially from Appleton, WI, died Friday, January 20, 2023, following a brief rehabilitation stay at Villa Loretto Nursing Home at Mt. Calvary. He was surrounded by his loving family during his final days. Hugh was born on December 23, 1942, to Hugh S. and Eleanor (née Kirby) Myers in Otsego, MI, where he spent his childhood. Hugh attended Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo where he met his future wife Martha (Marty) Kaas while dancing “Under the Sea”. After earning his BS in Paper Technology and Marty his BS in Education, they were married on August 19, 1967 at Kanley Chapel on the WMU campus. Hugh went on to earn his MSc in Paper Technology in 1969, while Marty began teaching in primary school. Prior to moving to Appleton, WI in 1971, the couple lived in Dayton, OH, where Hugh began working for a subsidiary of Appleton Papers (currently Appvion) and Marty continued teaching while earning his master’s degree at the Wright State University. Once in Appleton, Hugh spent the next 34 years working as a chemist for Appleton Papers. On weekends he photographed weddings as he started his own part-time business, Hugh Myers Photography, which he continued to do for 39 years. With the move to Appleton, Marty returned from teaching and she and Hugh started their own family, with the birth of their daughter, Amy and later their son, Scott. Although Hugh worked many hours between the paper business and his own business, his family fondly remembers him as being at “everything the kids did”. While Marty was responsible for the general education of their children, Hugh instilled laughter and a strong work ethic in Amy and Scott, as well as a love for science. When summer weekends permitted, the family enjoyed canoe trips with picnics in Door County and Waupaca. On weekends in the fall and winter, when there were no swim meets, Hugh cheered on the Badgers and Packers with great enthusiasm. Hugh also enjoyed biking and kayaking. Upon his retirement from Appleton Papers in 2003, Hugh took on several part-time jobs to avoid the boredom he found in retirement. He continued his photography business until 2012. Additionally, he and Marty started traveling and sailed the Caribbean seven times. They also babysat their two grandsons, Caleb and Connor, and attended the boys’ many activities over the next few years. Hugh was the proudest of his family and can be seen smiling lovingly in the thousands of photos that exist. Besides love for his family, Hugh’s greatest love was for his Lord and Saviour. He and his family were members of the Alliance Church in Appleton, where Hugh served as usher. Hugh left a handwritten note mentioning “the importance of our mini-church in our spiritual growth”. Hugh also volunteered frequently at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Appleton and St. Joseph’s Food Pantry in Menasha, WI. Hugh’s love for family, especially his beloved wife Marty, remained apparent until the end. He struggled with issues related to his Parkinson’s disease and his final days after a broken hip were complicated. No matter how difficult, however, Hugh always found loving words for and about Marty, giving him credit for raising their wonderful children. He could also find a small smile at the mention of his favorite drink, a Pepsi. Hugh’s death creates deep sadness for all who knew him. He leaves behind Marty, his best friend and wife of 55+ years, from Fond du Lac; his children Amy (John) McFadden of Fond du Lac and Scott (Andrea) Myers of Minneapolis, MN as well as his “caring grandsons” Caleb and Connor McFadden. He is also survived by his sisters Winnifred (Larry) Jurrjens of South Lyon, MI, and Marilyn (George) Marion of Kalamazoo, MI, and his brother-in-law Richard (Kathy) Kaas of Nashua, NH, as well as nieces and nephews. . Hugh was also blessed with many friends, including longtime special friends Mel and Barb Lichefski of Appleton as their mini-church leaders. Hugh K. Myers was sued in death by his parents, Hugh S. and Eleanor Myers and his in-laws Wayne and June (née Shauver) Kaas. Hugh’s body was cremated. A celebration of Hugh’s life will be held Saturday, February 4, 2023 at Alliance Church, 3693 W. Grand Chute Blvd, Appleton, WI 54913. (920-968-0700) Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. with service at 11 a.m. and lunch to follow. Interment of ashes will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Hugh’s name may be directed to Alliance Church or the American Parkinson Disease Association by mail, email or telephone. (apdaparkinson.org) The family thanks the staff at Villa Loretto, Mt. Calvary, for their extraordinary care in Hugh’s final days and the staff and friends at Lake View Place for making Hugh feel welcome . Additional gratitude goes to Dr Lisa Weber, Dr Steven Magoline and Hugh’s care team at St. Agnes Hospital, Fond du Lac. Kurki’s funeral chapel and crematory serve the family, the online guest book is available at www.kurkifuneralchapel.com. 920-921-4420 I thank my God every time I remember you. Philippians 1:3 NIV
Posted on January 27, 2023
Posted in Fond du Lac Reporter, The Post Crescent