Michael J. Hermans

March 11, 1944 – June 23, 2024

The final school bell rang Sunday, June 23, 2024 for Mike Hermans, 80, a lifetime educator who has now joined his late wife, Maryclare.

Mike was born to Harold and Ellen (Carew) Hermans on March 11, 1944, in Hobbs, New Mexico, where his father was based at the Hobbs Army Airfield, a training base during World War II.

After the War, his parents returned to Green Bay where Mike attended St. Patrick's grade school, Premontre High School (class of 1962) and St. Norbert College (1966) where he earned a degree in education. He met Maryclare at St. Norbert, and each took teaching jobs in Milwaukee following graduation.

After spending the 1966/67 school year in Milwaukee, they returned to Green Bay. Mike taught English at Washington Junior High School for a couple years before moving to Edison Junior High School when it opened in 1970. He moved from teaching English to assistant principal for a short time then spent most of his career at Edison as principal.

After educating tens of thousands of kids, Mike could be quoted saying, "They are an old student of mine." At the doctor's office. A restaurant. Getting the oil changed. He influenced a lot of people.

Mike retired from education in 2002. The next day he drove to Yellowstone National Park where he took a job working at a Yellowstone hotel as a front desk clerk so he could spend time in a part of the world he loved. His days off were filled exploring the park and surrounding area.

After finishing the season at Yellowstone, Mike returned to Green Bay and started teaching in other ways. He volunteered with a number of nonprofit agencies including Literacy Green Bay and C.A.S.A. (Court Appointed Special Advocates) where he was named volunteer of the year in the state of Wisconsin in 2016.

Mike was always involved in his Catholic faith. He was a lector and committee member for many years at St. Matthew Parish in Allouez then lector and volunteer at St. Willebrord Parish in Green Bay. He was an active member of the Norbertine Associates and had many friends within the Norbertine community.

Mike and Maryclare had a special group of friends. Some met in college then the group grew to be many couples and families. The friends hosted events such as gourmet dinners and discussion groups, attended theater performances, celebrated New Year's Eve and had family camping trips. Their children grew up together and many still keep in touch.

Throughout his life, Mike enjoyed the outdoors including swimming and camping and was active in Boy Scouts. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout and served on staff at Bear Paw Scout Camp in Mountain, Wisconsin. He became camp director, a role he held in the late 1960s to 1974 then again after retiring from teaching in the early 2000s.

One year when they were both still working, Maryclare told Mike about a long-weekend tour to New York City hosted by a theater professor at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

Mike was quoted as saying, "What would I want to go to New York for?" Of course, they went and that started Mike's intense love of travel and meeting and learning about people from around the world. He returned to New York many times, but Mike and his travel friends spent dozens of weeks around the U.S., in Europe and in South America. He kept a world map with colored stick pins in all the places he visited and had a digital picture frame that captured images from his many adventures.

Mike is survived by his son, Sean (Jill) and brother, Pat (Belinda). He is further survived by nieces and nephew Colleen Hermans, Zach Hermans and Amanda (Derek) Zelhofer (great nieces and nephews; Declan, August, Kinsley, Wrenley); grandchildren Alex (Tom) Sawicki-Flood (Zoey and Jenna); Olivia Sawicki and great-granddaughter, Amari.

He was preceded in death by Maryclare (1996), his mother, Ellen (2010) father, Harold (2013) and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Visitation will be July 1 from 9-10:30 a.m. followed by Mass of Christian Burial at St. Willebrord Parish, 209 S. Adams St. Green Bay, Wisconsin with Fr. Andy Cribben O. Praem. officiating. Burial will be next to Maryclare and near his parents at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Manawa, Wisconsin, at 11 a.m. the following day.

Instead of flowers, donations can be made in Mike's name to C.A.S.A. of Brown County, St. Willebrord's church restoration or a helpful charity of your choosing.

As Mike said several thousand times, "Put this day to good use."