Kenneth J. Ermis Sr., 79, of Mountain, passed away suddenly on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025.
Ken was born April 28, 1946, in Oconto Falls. Ken was a loving husband (of 59.8 years), great father, grandfather and great-grandfather; the best mechanic; and most fun-loving guy you would ever have met.
Ken lived in Milwaukee most of his life, where he was a bench mechanic. He married Johanna M. DeCleene at St. Rose of Lima Church in Milwaukee on Oct. 2, 1965. Ken and JoAnn bought two acres of his grandparents’ farmland in Mountain, where they enjoyed spending their weekends with family and friends and moved up to make their home in 1994.
His parents, Peter and Phyllis (Heisler) Anderson, owned Green Lake Tap, where Ken enjoyed joking with the guys and kissing all the girls. Ken loved hunting, fishing, bowling, horseshoes. Ken loved working in his garage (where you could hear his “shop talk”) with his kids and grandkids, where many memories were made. He also loved watching the Packer games, shouting “Touchdown!” and getting the celebratory shot.
Ken is survived by his wife, JoAnn; children, Lynn Kauzlaric, Kenneth (Dawn) Ermis Jr. and Peter (Kasey) Ermis; sister, Arleen Beyma; brothers- and sisters-in-law, Donna (Larry) Marinello, Joseph (Kathy) DeCleene, John (Loretta) DeCleene, Elizabeth Schott, Marie (Jim) Ackmann, Rose (Isaac) Jackson, Vincent (Rhonda) DeCleene, Ted (Sandy) DeCleene, Theresa LeBreck, Matthew (Vicki) DeCleene and Mark (Tina) DeCleene; grandchildren, Jennifer (Noah) Ball, Joshua (Charissa) Steppe, Jonny Steppe, Jacob (Lisa) Steppe, Koren Poradek, Bernie Poradek, Jager Eisch, Quinn Eisch, David (Melissa) Kauzlaric and Andrew Kauzlaric; 14 great-grandchildren. He is further survived by aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and many other relatives and friends.
Ken was preceded in death by his daughter, Christine Ermis; parents, Peter and Phyllis Anderson; in-laws, Joseph and Martha DeCleene; nephew and godson, Richard “Huntz” Beyma; brother-in-law, Richard Beyma; sister-in-law, Ann (Tim Grabowski; brothers-in-law, Paul LeBreck and Gary Schott.
A celebration of Ken’s life will be held on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, at 1 p.m. at the Bill Lazansky Community Center, 13412 Highway 32-64, Mountain.
Gruetzmacher Funeral Home in Suring is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences can be expressed at www.gruetzmacherfunderalhome.com.
The family would like to thank the staff at Mountain Ambulance Service for their care for Ken, especially Charlie Anderson, who even off duty came to assist and provide comfort to the family at their time of loss.
