Bernice M. Verhoven

Bernice M Verhoven, 91, De Pere passed away Wednesday, June 29, 2022. She was the first child born to August and Emma (Keuken) Bartels on August 1st, 1930 and was raised in Little Rapids. She graduated from West De Pere High School. On October 7th, 1953, she married Sylvester Verhoven at St. Boniface Church in De Pere. They celebrated 56 years together before Sylvester passed away in 2010.
Bernice worked at the US Post Office in Wrightstown, Greenleaf, and Green Bay. She made many friends and 'informants' throughout her 35 years. In Greenleaf, very rarely did Mom not already know where the kids had been out the night before by the time the sun rose in the morning!
Bernice was a proud member of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 436 in Wrightstown.
Family and friends were everything to Bernice. Her heart and her home always had room – no matter how many kids were home or friends were over! Many friends became family through her example of love.
Ever the card player, Bernice enjoyed playing (and winning) everything from Canasta to Sheepshead to Phase 10. She and Sylvester spent many hours dancing the polka at local dancehalls with friends. Her favorite days also included any that involved going out for lunch!
Bernice is survived by seven children: Joe (Barbara) Verhoven; Pat (Paul) Champeau; Mike Verhoven; Jane (Brian) Smits; Vicki (Curtis) Turner; Rose (Paul) Lewis and Jenny (Brad) Stallsmith. She is further survived by close family member Lynn Rechek; grandchildren: Aaron (Fran) Kushava; Katie Kushava; Philip (Samantha) Champeau; Sarah Champeau; Justine (Ruben) Figueroa; Morgan (Sam) Napier; Brianna Smits; and Joshua Smits; great-grandchildren: Izzy, Leo, and Zach Kushava; Kaliyah Kushava; Freya Champeau; and Brooklyn Figueroa. Her brother Harvey (Judy) Bartels and in-laws Jim (Rita) Brochtrup and Rosemary Bartels and many, many nieces and nephews also survive.
Bernice was preceded in death by her husband, Sylvester; parents; daughters Sandra Verhoven; Mary (Rick) Rechek; sisters Edna (Dick) Verhoven; Rachel (Gordy) Kempf; and Linda Krause; brother Joe Bartels; mother- and father-in-law Gertrude and Martin Verhoven; brothers- and sisters-in lawAnna Marie Madrid; Germaine Verhoven; Dorothy Meulemans; Betty Brochtrop; Jeannie Lindner and Donald (Joanne) Verhoven.
Visitation for Bernice will be on Monday, July 11th from 9am – 11 am at St Francis Xavier Church 220 S Michigan St De Pere with Mass of Christian Burial at 11 am. Burial will be in St Claire's Cemetery-St Mary's Greenleaf site.
The Verhoven Family would like to thank the staff at Rennes Health Center, De Pere, for the years of heartfelt care. Thank you to Chaplain Steve and Social Worker Chris E from Unity Hospice for their support over the past couple weeks.