Shayne Jansen grew up in De Pere, and now he's on Season 2 of Netflix's 'Love Is Blind' looking for love and talking cheese curds

If Shayne Jansen’s Wisconsin roots weren’t showing earlier in Season 2 of Netflix’s “Love Is Blind,” they presented themselves in spectacular fashion in Episode 7 when talk turned to curds and Old-Fashioneds.

As Jansen was making wedding plans with fiancée Natalie Lee, he asked for just two things to be incorporated into the big day: a fountain that streams endless Old-Fashioned cocktails and a menu that includes cheese curds.

Not a big ask, right? Or at least not if you grew up in De Pere like Jansen did.

The Old-Fashioneds would be a way to honor his late father, Wayne Jansen, who died in March 2021 and enjoyed Wisconsin’s signature cocktail, he said. The curds could be part of a kids buffet at the wedding that included pizza, hot dogs, and mac and cheese.

“Shane, my entire family’s lactose intolerant,” Lee replies, as she looks at him in disbelief.

“Really,” he says. “My family grew up on milk and cheese.”

Lee: “Also my family doesn’t really drink so ...”

Jansen: “Oh boy, in Wisconsin, all they do is drink. This is gonna be a wild wedding.”

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Even before Jansen, a 32-year-old Chicago real estate broker, brought up the genius idea of an Old-Fashioned wedding fountain, he made a name for himself as the high-energy half of a couple hoping to find love on the Emmy-nominated reality dating series.

Jansen, who played baseball and football at West De Pere High School and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 2012, is one of 30 singles featured on the second season, which premiered Feb. 11.

Here’s how it works: Couples get to know each other in a speed-dating format in "pods" (think individual living rooms separated by walls), where they can talk to each other but can’t see one another, with the eventual option to propose sight unseen. Once engaged, they meet face to face, go on a couples retreat in Mexico, meet each other’s family and plan their wedding, ultimately making their final decision at the altar.

Viewers won’t know until Friday’s finale if Jansen, 32, and Lee, a 30-year-old Chicago professional consultant, actually get married.

Audiences have already met his mother, Karen Jansen, during Episode 8, when Lee was trying on wedding dresses at Genevieve’s Bridal Couture in Deer Park. His brother, Brent Jansen, and Tyler, “my good best friend from back home,” also showed up in the same episode.

Shayne Jansen, a former personal trainer, described himself this way in the first episode: “Do I think I’m a huge tool? Absolutely, 100%, and I own that. That’s fine. I get it. At the same time, I have a really kind heart and I really am passionate about life and who I am. I feel like there’s a lot more to me than meets the eye.”

By his own admission, his mouth gets him in trouble — “a lot.” (He didn’t do himself any favors with viewers by getting tangled up in a love triangle with Shaina earlier in the season.) But his mother assured Natalie he wouldn’t hurt a fly and that family is very important to him.

In addition to his spirited personality, he also has a voice and laugh that are distinctive. Fellow cast member Kyle Abrams told him he sounds like Beetlejuice. Some viewers have pointed out his resemblance to actor Jake Busey.

Contact Kendra Meinert at 920-431-8347 or kmeinert@greenbay.gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @KendraMeinert.