Anita Kerkhoff, 85, De Pere.

Anita was born on October 10, 1939, to the late Dorothy (Keyser) and David Cavil in Richfield Springs, New York. She passed away January 31, 2025, after a courageous five-year battle with Parkinson's Disease.

Anita moved from New York to De Pere, Wisconsin in 1954 with her family. She graduated from Wrightstown Highschool in 1958. She married the love of her life, Leo J. Kerkhoff, on June 24, 1961 at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in De Pere, Wisconsin. Together, they had three children, Debra, Kenneth and Kelly.

Anita was the bookkeeper for 54 years for the homebuilding business her and Leo owned. When she wasn't working for their business, she also took great pride and joy in babysitting her great-nieces, Heidi and Stephanie, and her grandchildren, Colten and Katrina. Both Colten and Katrina spent preschool and every day after school from elementary school until they graduated high school at their "Nanny and Papa's" house. She always made sure they were sent home with their schoolwork done and a meal in their bellies. She was the best "Nanny" ever.

Anita enjoyed the many trips to Mexico, Hawaii, Las Vegas, Florida and many more with her sister and brother-in-law, June and Steve Schuchart, and other close friends. Anita loved gardening, rock gardens and flowers, especially her canna bulbs which she loved sharing with friends, family and neighbors. Her favorite place to be in the summer was the family lake house at Lee Lake, where they met many of her and Leo's longtime friends. Anita never saw a tree she didn't want to "save" and planted every Arbor Day tree her grandchildren brought home and every seedling she could find and "rescue".

Anita is survived by her adoring husband, Leo, who never left her side; daughter and son-in-law, Debra and Jeff Geurts; grandchildren, Colten (Krystal) Geurts and Katrina (Graem) Cox; great-grandchildren, Corinne Anita Geurts and Baby Geurts due in March 2025; siblings, Mary Hockers, June (Steve) Schuchart, Betty (Tom) Rottier, Diane Rukamp and Jerry (Norma) Cavil; sisters-in-law, Doris Cavil, Irene Ebben, Joann (Roger) Leick; brother-in-law, Ervin (Mary Jo) Kerkhoff and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Anita is preceded in death by sons, Kenneth and Kelly Kerkhoff; parents, David and Dorothy Cavil; brothers, Randall Cavil and Richard (Dick) Cavil; sisters-in-law, Rosemary Cavil, Darlene Kerkhoff, Ruth Kerkhoff and Barb Kerkhoff; brothers-in-law, Louis Kerkhoff, Melvin Hockers, Leroy Rukamp and Harold Ebben; and father and mother-in-law, Adrian and Margaret (Moran) Kerkhoff.

Family and friends may attend visitation from 9:30 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 220 S. Michigan St., De Pere, Wisconsin. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00AM with Fr. Michael D'Souza officiating. Ryan Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

The family would like to thank the wonderful staff of Woodside Villa and Heartland Hospice for their compassionate care. The family would also like to thank longtime family friend, Sue (DeMoulin) Kirtland, for the prayers, weekly communion, songs, friendship and love.