Obituary for Debra Lynn Lansdown
April 25, 1961 – May 1, 2023
Debra Lynn Lansdown (nee Walton) passed away on May 1, 2023, while battling cancer. She was born on April 25, 1961, to the late Lawrence and Gladys (LeCloux) Walton, in Green Bay, Wis. She was the second youngest of 15.
Debra married Phillip Lansdown on March 23, 1996, in Green Bay. Together, they bought and restored two Victorian homes. They enjoyed estate sales and thrifting to source furnishings representative of the era to appoint to their homes. Debra had a knack for thinking of something she wanted for her home, like a chandelier or fixture, and it magically appeared for purchase at the next place she shopped.
At the center of her world were her children and especially her grandchildren. She would tell everyone that she has the “most beautiful, talented, and smart children and grandbabies”. She made every effort to attend events for her grandbabies like plays, dance performances, and football and baseball games. Whether her grandbabies were away from home or near her, they could count on visits from Grandma to check-in.
She worked multiple jobs while raising her children and prided herself on never “going on the system.” Even during hard times, she ensured her children had what they needed, working harder to get those things they wanted or something similar. She had diverse vocations from bartending to fast food before finding her place at Schreiber Foods in Green Bay, where she spent 11 years.
After conquering breast cancer in 2001, she opened a name-brand women’s clothing store called “Unlike Any Other,” which also described her perfectly. In 2003, she embarked on a new adventure by moving to Racine where she joined Ocean Spray Cranberries in Kenosha as a machine operator where she spent the last 19 years. Her work ethic was a model for all. She loved her job and, more importantly, the people she worked with.
She had an amazing skill for bargain hunting and put it to good use, purchasing items for the local woman’s shelter or selecting and fulfilling children’s requests from giving trees around Christmas. Her grandbabies grew excited when Grandma would say “I got you a prize.” This skill also led her to become a collector of designer purses and owned many from Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Chanel.
Christmas was her favorite. It was an excuse to spoil her grandbabies and she couldn’t wait to spend the holiday with them. A decorated tree was a constant fixture in her home. In the months leading to Christmas, she would add one to almost every room of the house, decorated with her collection of Christopher Radko and other vintage ornaments. She loved to look at them as she decorated and remind everyone that “this (ornament) is really old.”
Her love of music ran deep, and she loved to experience music live at concerts, always with a buddy. Some of her favorites were Lady Gaga (w/Tayler), P!nk (w/Dana) and Madonna (w/Phil).
As a voracious reader, she loved to attend author events with her best friend, Debbie Haley. It was a point of pride to have an expansive library in her home, filled only with books she had read, many signed by the author.
If you wanted honesty, Debra was the source. She spoke her mind and strongly believed “facts don’t care about your feelings.” This was also demonstrated in her strong sense of right and wrong and she was ready to advocate for those who needed it.
Debra will be remembered as the life of the party. She was the first on the dance floor and loved taking selfies with everyone at any event as a chronicle of her experience. To summarize Debra in a few words: a contagious, spirited, generous personality accented by colorful language.
Debra will be desperately missed by those left behind. She was one-of-a-kind and to be loved by her was to be truly blessed.
Debra is survived by her husband, Phillip; children: Denny Wypishinski, Danielle (Nick) Brosig, Dana (Adam Prechter) Wypishinski, Chelsea (Nick) Merrill, and Paul (Sasha) Lansdown; grandchildren: Dustin, Tayler, Troy (Alexia), Koree, Brenna, Kyra, Ivana, Kane, Kassidy and Lilijana; mother-in-law: Patricia Lansdown; siblings: Nancy Voegtline, Michael (Vickie) Walton, David (Janice) Walton, Victoria Walton; in-laws: James Ullman, Jan Walton, Sharon DeCleene, Patricia (Russell Krinker) Rondeau, Kathy Johnson, and Tommy Lansdown; nephew: Wade Voegtline, whom she had a special bond; godchildren: Kelly Burich and Hunter Walton; many more nieces, nephews, and extended family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Lawrence and Gladys (LeCloux) Walton, and father-in-law, Thomas Lansdown; siblings: Shirley (Anton) Fatla, Kayella (Charles) Burkel, Gerald (Delores) DeCleene, Gary Walton, Larry Walton, Dale Walton, Ruthann Ulman, Richard Walton, Steven Walton, and Lisa Healy; in-laws, Robert Voegtline, Herb Johnson, and Elin Lansdown; nephews: Michael DeCleene, Jamie Fatla, and Randy Fatla.
Services
A memorial service will be held at the Maresh-Meredith & Acklam Funeral Home at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 7, 2023, with a reception to follow at Infusino’s Banquet Hall. Relatives and friends may meet prior to the service from noon until 2 p.m.
Obituary and photo courtesy of Maresh-Meredith & Acklam Funeral Home.
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