Mayhew, Josephine

Other Events:

• Obituary: 20 Dec 2016; APC

Notes:

Obituary:
Josephine "Jo" Van Lieshout, age 90, of Appleton, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Saturday, December 17, 2016.
One of eight children, Jo was born in Lansing, Michigan on June 19, 1926, the daughter of David and Martha Mayhew. After graduation from high school, she entered St. Lawrence Hospital School of Nursing in Lansing, where she was a member of the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps. As a registered nurse, she worked in Lansing and at Cook County Hospital in Chicago. In 1948, she enrolled at Marquette University to take a post-graduate course in medical nursing and graduated to be a nursing school instructor, working part-time at St. Joseph Hospital to pay for college. After graduation, she worked for the Milwaukee V.N.A. and held a teaching position at the Mount Sinai Hospital School of Nursing. In 1949, two momentous events occurred: in October, she was baptized into the Catholic Church at the chapel of St. Joseph Hospital, and later that year she met her future husband, Frank, at a campus social.
Jo and Frank were married on August 11, 1951 at Holy Name Church in Kimberly. That fall Frank entered medical school, and they resided in Milwaukee until the completion of his internship. Jo worked part time at St. Joseph Hospital, and two of their children were born in Milwaukee. In 1956, they moved to Little Chute where five more children were born, and Jo dedicated herself to caring for Frank and the children, enabling "Dr. Van" to serve the community as a family doctor. After 17 years in Little Chute, the family moved to Appleton.
Jo's family was her life. She enjoyed and instilled in her children a lifelong love of learning, a curiosity for travel, and a compassion for others. She was a wonderful cook, making elaborate birthday and holiday dinners. She learned to cook fish and churned out pan after pan every Friday, along with tasty side dishes. Her baked beans were a staple at family potlucks. Jo enjoyed reading cookbooks, and no recipe was too challenging for her to tackle. She was a voracious reader who loved learning about history and foreign lands, and she had a special interest in Queen Elizabeth. She was a weather enthusiast and collected elephants and watches. Jo had a great sense of humor and sharp wit, but never at the expense of others. She was an animal lover, doting on her pet dogs and cats. She loved music, whether traditional, popular or religious. Jo was known to call radio stations to dedicate songs on her child's birthday. Although she didn't learn to swim until adulthood, Jo religiously attended water aerobics classes at the Appleton Y.
She was a giver - of her time, her talent, her love. Jo was a member of the Education Committee at St. Bernadette Grade School and served many years on the Human Concerns and Mission Committees. She volunteered extensively at the Salvation Army and enjoyed working with children at the Red Cross swimming program for special needs students. Her favorite volunteer activity was serving at the Appleton Health Department Immunization Clinic.
Jo is survived and will be sorely missed by her loving husband, Dr. Frank Van Lieshout, her seven children, Susan Kelley (Nick Vollendorf) of New Berlin, David Van Lieshout (Megan) of Wrightstown, John Van Lieshout (Missy) of Milwaukee, Monica Gamm (Steve) of Milwaukee, Mary Van Lieshout (Brian Dowd) of Dublin, Ireland, Paul Van Lieshout (Lizbeth) of Lincolnshire, Illinois, and Ellsbeth McGowan of Whitefish Bay. Jo is also survived by her 16 grandchildren, Fran Kelley (Claire), Eileen Kelley (Joe Rasmussen), Bob Van Deurzen, Amie Campbell (Tim), Nichole Van Deurzen, John Van Lieshout, Foley Van Lieshout, Michael Dowd, Caitriona Dowd, Ciara Dowd, Martha Van Lieshout, Emma Van Lieshout, Nick Van Lieshout, Phoebe McGowan, Felicia McGowan and Georgia McGowan, and her four great-grandchildren, John Rasmussen, Ella, Grant and Brock Campbell.
Jo is further survived by her brother, James Mayhew (Thelma), her sister, Evelyn Wilson and her sister-in-law, Nancy Mayhew. She is also survived by her sisters-in law Therese Livermore and Mary Jane Van Lieshout and brother-in-law Thomas Van Lieshout (Betty). Jo was preceded in death by her brothers George Mayhew (Betty), Macklin "Mike" Mayhew (Fran), Donald Mayhew, Harold "Hal" Mayhew (Deloris) and sister Harriett McBride (John). She was also preceded in death by her sisters-in-law Marie Gossens (Joe), Martha Block (Fritz), Catherine Prasher (Dick) and Patricia Harvey (Tom) and brothers-in-law, Gene Wilson, Joe Van Lieshout and Jack Van Lieshout (Betty).
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12:00 noon on Thursday, December 22, 2016 at St. Bernadette Catholic Church, 2331 Lourdes Drive, Appleton, with Fr. Don Zuleger officiating. Friends may call at the church on Thursday from 9:30 a.m. until noon. In lieu of flowers, Jo requested that memorials be sent to St. Bernadette Parish or Doctors Without Borders. As Jo loved her country, the Fourth of July and all things patriotic, on Thursday, please wear something red, white and blue in her honor.
The family appreciates the professionalism and compassion shown to Jo by her doctors and caregivers and especially the kind and dedicated care of Therri of Affinity Visiting Nurses.
Published in Appleton Post-Crescent on Dec. 20, 2016

Josephine married VanLieshout, Dr. Francis Xavier 11 Aug 1951, Kimberly, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA. Francis (son of VanLieshout, Francis Xavier and VanHeeswyk, Marie "Mayme") was born 11 Oct 1927, Kimberly, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA; died 06 Sep 2020, Little Chute, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA. [Group Sheet]

Monica married Gamm, Steven (son of Gamm, Warren and Unknown, Margaret) [Group Sheet]