Mackenzie Van Eperen Obituary, Death – Freedom – On March 6, 2022, Mackenzie Van Eperen, unexpectedly passed away from complications following a heart attack. His loved ones were by his side. Son of John “Jack” Van Eperen and Joan Simpson, he was born in Kaukauna on December 20, 1968. In 1987, he earned his high school diploma from Freedom. Jeff has spent the last 30 years working with Appvion and has been a board member of USW Local Union 2-0469 since 2016. He wed Cheri Nagan on November 12, 2011, at Freedom’s Country Chapel. Mackenzie was a devoted sports fan who had a soft spot for Wisconsin’s home teams. He liked taking trips in the RV and seeing new places, as well as going Harley riding and camping with friends.
Mackenzie was a kind person. and was always willing to lend a hand. Due to the fact that he was a big kid himself, all kids were drawn to him. Most people called him Nips or Nippy, but only a select few were familiar with his other identity as “El Jefe.” Arielle and Adrienne, his kids, made Mackenzie incredibly happy. He took pleasure in seeing them develop into stunning, self-sufficient women. This summer, Jeff was looking forward to giving rides to his granddaughter Alessa on the John Deere. Kendrick’s wife Cheri Van Eperen, daughters Arielle and Adrienne, granddaughter Alessa, parents Jack (Barb) Van Eperen and Joan (Rick) Simpson, sister Patti (Brian) Haupt, father and mother-in-law Bill and Joyce Nagan, brother-in-law Andy (Katrina), step-brother Nick (Angela) Glatz, nieces and nephews Tori (Neal) Schlavensky, Tyler (fiance Bennett Glatz, Ethan Nagan, Lettie Nagan, Faith Vosters) Haupt, and many other aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.
His grandparents, his uncle Bill Van Eperen, and his cousin Scott Van Eperen all died before Mackenzie. On March 10, 2022, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., there will be a visitation at the Verkuilen-Van Deurzen Family Funeral Home FREEDOM LOCATION, N3972 Columbia Ave. The visitation will continue on Friday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the Mass at 11:00 a.m. at St. Nicholas Catholic Church, W2037 County Road S, Freedom. Please donate to the American Heart Association or the Freedom Food Pantry in place of flowers. Please send any Jeff-related recollections to RememberingNippy@yahoo.com at the request of the family. In the future,
The family of Jeff Van Eperen would especially like to thank Dr. Laurin Bellg, Katalin Vanegas, A.P.N.P., the emergency room and intensive care unit staff at Theda Care Regional Medical Center in Appleton, the Town of Center first responders, the Outagamie County Sheriff Department, Gold Cross Ambulance Services, and the Good Samaritans on the scene for all of the wonderful and compassionate care provided to Jeff during these trying times.