Lawrence H. Verhagen

Age 89, passed away Wednesday, May 9, 2001 at St. Paul Home in Kaukauna. Larry was born in Freedom on October 18, 1911, son of the late Henry and Wilhelmina (Weyers) Verhagen. He opened the Depot Grocery on Kaukauna’s north side in 1935. On November 25, 1937, he married Gladys Van De Hey in Wrightstown. Near the end of World War II, Larry sold Depot Grocery, and in 1947 opened Kaukauna’s first self-service, cash and carry grocery store, then known as Larry’s Supermarket. In 1952, the store relocated to Dodge Street, where Larry conducted business as Piggly Wiggly until 1971. In 1964, he opened his Little Chute market and relocated the Kaukauna store to its original Crooks Avenue location in 1967. In the mid 1970’s, Larry began to take some time away from the stores, and retired in 1981. Larry was a member of the Kaukauna Lions Club, the Elks Lodge, the Serra Club, and was a 4th Degree Knight of Columbus. He was proud to have been an original stockholder of the Green Bay Packers. An avid fan, he never missed a home game.

Larry is survived by his wife: Gladys Verhagen of Kaukauna; four daughters: Patricia (Jon) Myers of Neenah; Jean (Donald) Maeder of San Antonio, Texas; Kathleen (Gordon) Westphal of Sayner, Wisconsin; Mary Lynn (Paul) Knapp of Kaukauna; four sons: Thomas (Judy) Verhagen of Kaukauna; Timothy (Karen) Verhagen of Charlotte, North Carolina; Joseph (Bonnie) Verhagen of Kaukauna; David (Sher) Verhagen of DePere; thirty grandchildren: Karen Hoersch, Kate Meyer, Steve Myers, Suzanne Mitchell, Andrea Myers, Amy Cody, Beth Newton, Margaret Morales, Victoria Rohner, Maureen Hermsen, Patricia Salcido, Emily Verhagen, Dan Verhagen, Roxanne Westphal, Michael Westphal, Elizabeth Verhagen, Michael Verhagen, Andrew Verhagen, Matthew Verhagen, Joshua Verhagen, Erin Verhagen, Meaghan Verhagen, Laurel Verhagen, Rosa Verhagen, Sally Verhagen, Micaela Knapp, Mara Knapp, Kelyn Knapp, Kendra Knapp, and Riley Knapp; nineteen great-grandchildren; two sisters: Agatha Nussbaum of Kaukauna and Millie (Ervin) DeBruin of Kimberly; six brothers: Ben (Marge) Verhagen of Kaukauna; Richard (Monnie) Verhagen of Kaukauna; Ves (Min) Verhagen of Kimberly; Fr. Norbert Verhagen, M.M. of San Francisco; Fr. Donald Verhagen, S.D.S. of Manitowoc; Raymond Verhagen of Appleton. Larry was preceded in death by his parents, a grandson Robert L. Greenwood, a son-in-law Robert J. Greenwood, sisters Ceil (Norb) Meulemans and Martha (Ignatius) Schuh, brothers Ed (Rose) Verhagen, Lloyd (Doris) Verhagen, an infant brother Francis Verhagen, and a brother-in-law Ray Nussbaum.

The funeral liturgy will be held at 12:00 Noon on Saturday, May 12, 2001 at ST. ALOYSIUS CATHOLIC CHURCH, 134 West Ann Street in Kaukauna with Fr. David Schmidt officiating. Interment will be in Holy Cross Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home on Friday from 3:00p.m. until 8:30 p.m. and again at the church on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until the hour of the liturgy. There will be a parish prayer and scripture service at 7:0 p.m. Friday at the funeral home A memorial fund in Larry’s name has been established.

The family would like to extend their sincere gratitude to the entire staff of St. Paul Elder Services. Your outstanding level of service put us at ease. Dad could have been in no better hands.

FARGO FUNERAL HOME
400 W. Wisconsin Avenue
Kaukauna, Wisconsin 54130
920-766-6200