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- Eugene A. "Gene" Verhagen, Kaukauna, age 93, died Wednesday, April 6, 2016 at Atrium Post Acute Care in Little Chute. He was born on March 29, 1923 in Kaukauna to the late Louis and Catherine (Bergman) Verhagen. Eugene enlisted into the Navy in November, 1942 and was discharged in December, 1945.
While in the Navy, Gene met the love of his life, Rita, on a blind date on Christmas Eve, 1943. He asked her to be his pen pal when he went overseas for 2 years. Upon his discharge at Great Lakes, IL he returned to California for a brief visit at Rita's home and proposed to her. They quickly planned a formal wedding within 2 weeks and rode back to Wisconsin together.
Gene retired from Appleton Papers, Locks Mill in 1985 after 44 years of service as a millwright. He was a hardworking man and had a great crew to work with for many years. Gene enjoyed his job because it presented him with a different challenge almost every day.
Gene became a member of the American Legion Post 41 in Kaukauna and the Quarter Century Club at Appleton Papers Locks Mill. He was a lifelong member of St. Katharine Drexel Parish (St. Mary of the Annunciation Church) in Kaukauna where he was a Mass server, lector, Eucharistic minister and parish handyman.
In addition to making many things for the parish, he also made things for family and friends. Gene loved working with wood but in later years, acquired a hobby better suited to his health and became a "hooker" - working on a loom to make latch hook rugs and wall hangings for family and friends.
Gene and Rita enjoyed traveling to California by car, train and planes. They took two Hawaiian cruises and one to the Caribbean. Gene and Rita enjoyed golfing and playing cards. They were Packer season ticket holders for 38 years and greatly enjoyed the Lombardi and Holmgren eras.
Gene is survived by his wife of 70 years, Rita; children: Linda (Jim) Allen of Novato, CA; Ronald (Lynn) of Appleton; Diane (Bill) Murphy of Appleton; and Louis (Laurie) of Sheboygan; grandchildren: Jason (Coreen Baker) Allen, Dana (Mark) Aughney, Robert (Terri) Verhagen, Pete Verhagen, Erin (Dan) Dunbar, Heather Bastjan, Michael (Heidi Welk) Verhagen and Thomas Verhagen; great grandchildren: Kayla and Alicia Verhagen, Keara and Devin Aughney, Caitlin, Raegan and Rory Dunbar, Blake and Emily Bastjan and Hunter Allen; great great grandson: Bentley; and sister-in-law: Beatrice Lufi. He is further survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
In addition to his parents, Gene was preceded in death by his sisters: Leucina (infant), Johanna (Clarence) Fink, Regina (Walter) Swanningson and Rosemary (Vincent Biese, William) Kramer; by brothers: Steven, Ervin (Dorothy), Melvin and Jerome (Kathryn); sister-in-law: Helen (Devo) Mason; and brother-in-law: Harvey Lufi.
Visitation will be held Friday, August 15, 2016 at ST. KATHARINE DREXEL PARISH - ST. MARY CHURCH (119 W. 7th St. Kaukauna) beginning at 10:00 a.m. until time of Mass at 12:00 Noon. The Rev. Jerome Pastors will officiate. Military rites conducted by the American Legion Post 41 will immediately follow. Committal Holy Cross Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, a memorial is being established. To sign the guest book and to read more of Gene's story, please visit oconnellfh.com.
Gene's family would like to thank the Theda Care at Home Hospice team - Amy, Jill, Jessica, Ida and Chaplain Stuart for the love and care he received.
Gene's faith in God was very strong and it was very natural for him to rely on that faith because of the many blessings throughout his life. The chance meeting with Rita was part of God's plan for him and the many happy years of marriage, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, great great grandchildren, family and friends have become the great rewards of that partnership. Praise the Lord!
Published in Appleton Post-Crescent from Apr. 8 to Apr. 10, 2016
- Mr. & Mrs. Eugene A Verhagen of Kaukauna, WI celebrated their 70th Wedding Anniversary on March 5th with a private family gathering at their home.
Eugene enlisted in the Navy in 1942 during WWII. They met in CA on a blind date. Shortly after his discharge in 1945, he returned to CA in1946 to visit Rita again. A formal wedding took place, and Rita returned with him to Wisconsin.
Their marriage was blessed with four children, Linda (Jim) Allen of Novato, CA; Ronald (Lynn) Verhagen of Appleton, WI; Diane (William) Murphy of Appleton, WI; and Louis (Laurie) Verhagen of Sheboygan, WI. There are eight grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
The Verhagen's have resided all their married life in Kaukauna. Eugene was employed by Appleton Papers Locks Mill for 44 years. Rita was employed by Combined Locks Credit Union, now known as Fox Communities Credit Union, for 14 years. Their favorite saying is, "We're still trying it out"
Published in the Appleton Post-Crescent on March 6, 2016
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1923 - 2016 (93 years)
