Gertrude A. Verkuilen

Gertrude A. Verkuilen
(Van Handel)

Gertrude Verkuilen of Neenah formerly of Appleton, age 102 passed away on Saturday, May 2, 2009 at Cherry Meadows Hospice in Appleton. She was born on March 17, 1907, daughter of the late Arnold and Helena (Williamsen) Van Handel. She was united in marriage to Jacob Verkuilen on February 9, 1925 at St. John's Catholic Church, Little Chute, WI. They enjoyed 66 years of marriage until Jacob's death on February 23, 1991.
Gertrude was a member of St. Therese Catholic Church for 77 years. She was also a member of St. Therese Christian Mothers Society. Gert worked at Lawrence University as a housekeeper in Phi Delta Fraternity house for 10 years. She was a loving, caring mother to her family and any person that needed her.

Gertrude will be missed by her six loving children; Daughters: Martha (Marge) Pasholk, Neenah, Sharon Rammer, Appleton; Sons: Donald Verkuilen, Appleton, Marvin (Maureen) Verkuilen, Mount Arlington, N.J., Vernon (Yvonne “Eve”) Verkuilen, Bloomer, WI and Thomas Verkuilen, Appleton.

Grandchildren: Karen (Robert) Shadduck, Kevin (Suzanne) Parman, Michael (Georgia) Verkuilen, Mark (Renee') Verkuilen, Margaret (Thomas) Mollahan, Mary Jo (James) Sharick, Matthew (Joanne) Verkuilen, Henry ( Laura) Verkuilen, Sara (John) Caron, Ginny (Dean) Marquardt, Polly (Allan) Jacobson, Amy (Michael) Tisol-Retzinger, Kimberly Verkuilen, Douglas (Camille) Rammer and Beth (Holger) Raeder.

Great-grandchildren: Tina (Donald) Spaeth, Robert (Kelly) Shadduck, Michael (Kylene) Parman, Michael, Nicholas, and Alexia Verkuilen, Daniel ( Jennie) Verkuilen, Thomas Verkuilen; Jacob, Nicholas, and Jenna Sharrick; Madeline, Meghan, Caitlin, and Kelly Mollahan; Jacqueline and Abigail Verkuilen; MacKenzie and Jacob Caron; Annie and Jack Marquardt; Laken Jacobson, Caroline Tisol; Maxwell, Adeline and Jocelyn Rammer, and Robert and Annaleah Raeder.

Great Great-Grandchildren: Sierra Shadduck, Braden and Maklaya Parman, and Maliyah Verkuilen.

Step Grandchildren: George (Jennifer) Pasholk, Elaine Pasholk, Michael (Brenda) Kobs, Brian (Sasha) Bessette Verkuilen, Bridget Bessette.

Step Great-Grand Children: Erin Ashenbrenner, Jonathon Pasholk, Leeann (Larry) Johnson, Christopher Kobs, Jennifer (Jeremy) Van Camp, and Christine and Wayne Jacobsen. She is also survived by several step great great-grandchildren.

She is survived by her sister Margaret Phillips, Weyauwega, WI and sisters-in-law: Lorraine Van Handel, Ella Verkuilen, Anna Verkuilen and brother-in-law, George (Marie) Verkuilen. Gertrude is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her daughter-in-law, Agnes Verkuilen; sons-in-law: Kenneth Parman, Bernard Pasholk, and Robert W. Rammer; a very special ex-daughter-in-law, Judith Trowbridge; grandchildren: Keith Parman, Mary Verkuilen, and Mitsue Verkuilen; her sisters: Mary (Joseph) Van Handel, and Josephine (Frank) Evers, brothers: Joseph (Harriet) Van Handel, Theodore (Elizabeth) Van Handel, John (Mary) Van Handel, Henry (Lee) Van Handel, and Edward Van Handel; and brother-in-law, Sylvester Phillips. She was also preceded in death by her sisters, brothers and in-laws of her husband's family.

The funeral liturgy will be at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 7, 2009 at ST. THERESE CATHOLIC CHURCH, 213 E. Wisconsin Ave., Appleton, with Fr. William Hoffman officiating. Friends will be received at the church on Thursday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial will be in St. John Cemetery, Little Chute.

We would like to thank our sister, Marge for the wonderful care she provided our mother for the past nine years.

The family would like to thank the staff and volunteers of Cherry Meadow Hospice and Theda Care at Home for their excellent, compassionate care of our mother. We appreciate all they did for her.

Wichmann Funeral Home
537 North Superior Street
Appleton, WI 54911
(920) 739-1231