Obit: Verkuilen, John (1867 - 1936)

Contact:  Stan
Email: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: VERKUILEN DRIESSEN

----Sources: OWEN ENTERPRISE (Owen, Clark County, Wis.) 01/30/1936

Verkuilen, John (3 SEP 1867 - 24 JAN 1936)

John Verkuilen of Thorp (Clark Co., Wis.), died at the Chippewa Falls Hospital last Friday of heart trouble and other complications. He had been confined to his home for the past six weeks, suffering from a foot infection. He was at the hospital only a day.

Mr. Verkuilen was a widely known and prominent citizen of the county. He was vice chairman of the Clark County Board of Supervisors and was a member of the Thorp School Board at the time of his death.

Born at Pensaukee, Oconto Co., Wis., Sept. 3, 1867, he began work in the shipyards at Sheboygan after he had completed his schooling. On June 12, 1893, he was married to Hattie Driessen, and in 1894, with his wife and their first child, he came to Clark County with a horse and wagon as farm equipment.

The family settled on a tract of land in the town of Worden, west of Thorp, moving to another farm in 1901. In 1896 Mr. Verkuilen became a member of the Worden town board, serving three years in that capacity. He was later elected assessor, holding that office for six years, and in 1909 was elected as town chairman, becoming chairman of the County Board of Supervisors two years later and holding that office for many years. He also acted as clerk and as treasurer of his school district in the town of Worden.

Funeral services were held at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church at Thorp Tuesday, which was largely attended by citizens from all parts of the county. He is survived by his wife and seven children.