Laverne "Bud" Howard Ferris

LaVerne “Bud” Howard Ferris, age 89, passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 11 at Evergreen Retirement Community. He was born on May 6, 1931 to Howard and Marie (Abel) Ferris in Colgate WI.
As a young man Bud served in the National Guard WI in 1949, followed by enlistment in the Army, and he completed Engineering school in Ft. Belvoir, VA. He served in the Company F 5th Cavalry Regiment in the Korean War until he was wounded in December 1950. He rehabilitated at the Valley Forge Hospital in PA. Bud was stationed in Camp Kilmer NJ before being honorably discharged in 1952, and he received the Purple Heart.
On September 1, 1951, Bud married Rita Rose Hilger in Hartland WI where they resided for over 35 years. Bud especially enjoyed carpentry and gardening. He built cabinets for many family members, friends and co-workers, and knew how to fix almost everything. Bud was a life member of Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars and AMVETS. He volunteered putting up bunting on the storefronts before holidays in downtown Hartland.
Bud worked for St. Mary’s Hill Hospital in Milwaukee and retired as Director of Maintenance. After retirement he and Rita became snowbirds, alternating living in Lady Lake Florida and at their cabin in Amberg WI. After receiving a set of golf clubs from a priest, Bud learned to golf in Florida, and before long, scored a hole in one.
The cabin on 40 acres of wooded land in Amberg was Bud’s labor of love. He fully enjoyed tending to the vegetable and flower gardens, walking in the woods, and maintaining the cabin and property. He loved taking in nature, watching the wildlife, and identifying birds. After they sold the home in Florida, Bud and Rita moved to the Fox Cities area, but continued to spend time at the cabin whenever they could. In recent years they lived at the Heritage in Appleton before moving this year to Evergreen Retirement Community.
Bud endured the consequences of his war wound, and many health challenges in his later years, yet we seldom heard him complain. Bud coped by leading a faith-filled life, which included attending Catholic mass regularly and volunteering at parishes where Rita and Bud were members, including ushering at St. Charles Catholic Church in Hartland.
We’ll all miss Bud’s quiet, abiding wise and loving spirit. He gave us advice with gardening and home maintenance challenges. He taught us how to appreciate the wonders of nature. A planner and daily goal setter, Bud faced rehabilitation from surgeries or health setbacks with persistence and determination. He cherished the time he spent with family and friends which included: playing wiffle ball during family parties in his Hartland backyard, joining in on deer hunting weeks at the cabin, & sharing memories after a meal together.
Bud is preceded in death by his son, Howard (1955) and his sister Lois (William) Winkler (2020).
Bud is survived by his wife Rita (Hilger) of 69 years; his children and their spouses-- Chris (Gary) Koch of Oregon, WI Debbie (Mike) Kraemer of Waukesha WI, Michael Ferris of Beaverton MI, Mark (Patti) Ferris, of Fredonia WI and Colleen (Gary) Holz of Appleton WI; 13 grandchildren-- Brian (Jessica), Jeremy (Laurie), Greg, Aaron (Hillary), Andrea (Chase), Shaiyan (Nick), Mariah (Charles), Eric, Jeff (Stephanie), Melissa (Cagdas), Marie, Hayden and Sam; and 17 great grand-children.
Family and friends will gather on Friday, April 16, from 10-11 AM at St. Charles Catholic Church in Hartland WI. Mass will follow at 11:00. Masks are required, and services will be live streamed for those who do not wish to attend in person.
Our family would like to thank Evergreen Retirement Community, Theda Care Hospice, the Heritage in Appleton, and Little Chute Health Services for their loving care during the pandemic’s challenging circumstances. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Bud’s name may be made out to Disabled American Veterans, Wounded Warrior Project or the Evergreen Foundation, Inc.