Randy McSorley

Randy McSorley was born in 1954 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and passed away November 25, 2019 after enduring the autoimmune disease Systemic Scleroderma for over six years.

Randy attended Kimberly High School, and went on to UW-Oshkosh and several other schools through his life. Randy lived most of his life in Kaukauna.

Randy began his career working on paper mill rewinders, eventually transitioning into a passion for industrial safety. Randy has been recognized as an innovative safety engineer who demonstrated dramatic safety improvements for several companies and industries, and retired working with Intertape Polymer in Menasha.

Randy was very involved with community service, and served as a member of the 1000 Islands Environmental Center Executive Board, as well as the Grignon Home Board, the Kaukauna Board of Appeals, and many other opportunities over the years. Randy wrote a column named, “The Worker,” for several years.

Randy was interested in all forms of music, and played several instruments including piano and ukulele. The ukulele became a passion for Randy, and was privileged playing with an amazing group of talented musicians in the popular local ukulele band, “Forté and the Pianissimos.” The band is a regular at Appleton’s Mile of Music as well as many venues through the state and across the country. The band’s first album, “I’m Gonna Play Uke,” debuted in 2019. Randy wrote several original songs for the well-received album.

Randy was married to Lori Van Deurzen for 45 years. This was the best thing Randy ever did. 

Randy was close to his brother Jeff, who passed away in 2007, as well as his brother Kevin. Randy was very close to Lori’s family, especially with her sister Sara and her husband Todd Broeren, their three amazing daughters, and the daughters’ wonderful husbands and children.

Randy is survived by his wife, Lori McSorley; his mother, Dee McSorley; siblings: Kevin (Cheryl) McSorley, Jill Hanson, Pam McSorley and Kelly McSorley; brothers and sisters-in-law: Mary McSorley, Mary “Pepe” Haessly, Diane (Lisa) Van Deurzen-Otey, Matt (Jody) Van Deurzen, Linda (Tony) Gertz, Sara (Todd) Broeren and Paul (Susan) Van Deurzen; very special friends: Greg (Gerry) Vanden Heuvel and Michael (Jennifer) Twombly; numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, other relatives and many friends.

Randy was preceded in death by his father, Raymond McSorley; father and mother-in-law, Paul and Jeri Van Deurzen; brother, Jeff McSorley; and brothers-in-law, Dennis Haessly and Dave Hanson.  

There will be a celebration of Randy’s life on Monday, December 2, 2019, at 1000 Islands Environmental Center, 1000 Beaulieu Court, Kaukauna, beginning at 4:00 p.m. and ending at 8:00 p.m. For online condolences, please visit www.verkuilenfh.com.

Randy’s family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Michael Werner and his staff, and the staff of ThedaCare At Home Hospice for all of their compassionate care.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.