Anthony VerHey III

A Celebration of Life will be held this summer. To honor Tony's memory, his family requests everyone enjoy a quiet moment in nature. Memorial contributions may be made to your charity of choice.
A traditional obituary would not go far enough to express just how untraditional Tony VerHey truly was.
Born June 8th, 1963 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Tony was a one-of-a-kind, eccentric and vibrantly colorful character. He spent his younger years running feral in the neighborhood with his siblings and childhood friends and walking the woods of Al Sabo. Tony first worked as a Paramedic and Firefighter in Texas Corners where he earned the nickname "The Whistling Fireman". Indeed, helping those in need was something Tony took pride in and continued to do often even after leaving the force to work as a handyman extraordinaire. If you ran into an emergency, Tony was who you would call, and he poured his all into helping others until the very end.
When he wasn't tinkering with projects or saving someone's day, you would find Tony on the lake or in the woods, the two places he felt most at peace. Hunting and Fishing were his form of meditation and he relished the time he spent amongst the wildlife and nature. The silence shared in a fishing boat or tree stand will never feel the same again without him.
Tony's greatest joy and source of pride in life was being a father. His love for his family and friends was palpable and the immense unconditional love he had for his children will forever be a source of strength for them. The compassion and empathy he exuded to loved ones and strangers alike has brightened countless lives. The quintessential life of the party, you couldn't help but crack a smile at his incessant jokes. Many have acknowledged he missed a serious calling for stand up comedy, and his captivating stories and memories of his hilarious antics will be treasured for years to come.
Another pivotal moment in Tony's life was when he became a grandfather, or "Bappa", to his two precious granddaughters, Aurora (5) and Atlas (2). He poured every ounce of love he had into those girls; sharing adventures, magic, and wisdom amongst the giggles and laughter. They will be forever changed for the better having had him in their lives.
Not a stranger to sorrow, the hardest moments of Tony's life occurred when he lost his father in 2005, and his wife to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in 2016. He is preceded in death by his wife, Cathy VerHey; his father, Anthony VerHey; and many friends whom he missed dearly. Knowing he has been reunited with his father, friends, and the love of his life brings his family a great deal of comfort.
Tony passed on January 19th, 2025. He is survived by his mother, Ruth Gisela (Keck) VerHey ; his siblings, Frances Glass, Barb Krouse (Bill), Heidi Cameron, Eric VerHey, and sister-in-law, Michelle Kounelis; his children, Sarah VerHey (Kevin George), Ashley Massey (Nic), Anthony VerHey; and his grandchildren, Aurora & Atlas Massey.