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1934
2018
Oostburg - Catherine J. (Smies) VerVelde, 83, of Oostburg, passed away on Monday evening, February 26, 2018, at the Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice.
Catherine was born on June 29, 1934, in Philadelphia, PA, daughter of the late Rev. Robert and Dorothy (Jenkins) Churchill. She was a 1951 graduate of Cedar Grove High School and then attended Sheboygan Business College. On September 17, 1954, she married Norman R. Smies in Cedar Grove. Norman preceded her in death on September 28, 1997. Catherine married Ralph VerVelde on October 5, 2002 in Oostburg. Catherine was employed as a secretary at Curt G. Joa, Inc. for 27 years until her retirement in
2003.
Catherine was a member of Bethel Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Oostburg, where she was active in the choir, Women's Mentoring Program, as a Sunday school teacher, and in the Crossroad Bible studies
for prison inmates. She enjoyed making cookies, reading, birdwatching, knitting, flowers, and especially spending time with her family.
Catherine is survived by her husband of 15 years, Ralph; her two daughters, Deb (Joe) Wojnarowski of Milwaukee and Shirl Smies of Chattanooga, TN; her two sons, Dale Smies of Sheboygan and Corey Smies of Deerfield; her grandson, Jacob (Fiance Hannah Contreras) Smies; a great grandaughter, Gabrielle Smies; two step-sons, Tom (Leila) VerVelde of Cedar Grove and Paul (Margaret) VerVelde, of Oostburg; two step-daughters, Sharon (Bill) Brownell of Gibbsville and Sarah (Jason) Alsum of Oostburg; 17 step-grandchildren; Ethan (Lindsey), Marshall, Caitlin, Graham, and Stuart VerVelde, Jocelyn, Jesse, Josiah, Jo-Leigh, and Janeese VerVelde, Brandon (Rachel) VerVelde, Gabrielle Brownell, Michael, Caleb, Matthew, Nathan and Daniel Alsum; two sisters, Nancy (Harlan) Harmelink of Sheboygan and Mary Flachs of Albuquerque, NM; nieces and
nephews.
Catherine was preceded in death by her first husband, Norman, a
sister-in-law, Virginia VerVelde; and two brothers-in-law, Gerald Flachs and Andrew (Jane) Smies.
Funeral services to celebrate Catherine's life will be held at Bethel
Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Oostburg at 10:30 am on Friday, March 2, 2018 with Rev. David Veldhorst officiating. Burial will take place at Oostburg Cemetery in the Town of Holland.
Relatives and friends may greet the family at the Wenig Funeral Home in
Oostburg on Thursday from 4-7 pm, and at church, on Friday from 9:30 am until the time of the service at 10:30 am.
A memorial fund has been established in Catherine's name for Sheboygan County Christian School and Westminster Seminary East.
For online condolences and additional information please visit www.wenigfh.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Sponsored by Wenig Funeral Home - Oostburg.
2 Entries
So sorry for your loss.
I worked with Cathy at Curt Joa.
May wonderful memories fill your hearts. May God give you his peace.
Cindy Graf
March 8, 2018
Shirl, i am so sorry for the loss of your mother. She sounds like a wonderful and caring person. May God comfort you during your time of grief.
Carol Holtshouser
Hixson Pres.
Carol Holtshouser
February 28, 2018
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