Karl Vercouteren

06/24/1939 - 05/25/2025

Karl Julius Vercouteren was born and grew up in Sheboygan, Wis., where he worked summers at Boy Scout camps and attained the rank of Eagle Scout. He attended Lakeland College (now Lakeland University) in Wisconsin, United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, and did a student internship in Rhode Island. He served Grace United Church of Christ in Covington, Kentucky for 12 years, and was pastor of United Church of Christ, Congregational, of The Dalles, Oregon, from 1977 until his retirement in September 2008.
Karl was active in Cascade Singers. He especially enjoyed locating and arranging music for the group's annual "St. Pat's at St. Pete's" concerts.
Karl joined the Board of the Original Wasco County Courthouse. He organized the Regional History Forum. He worked on many Kiwanis service projects and led the organizing committee for Christmas, Cherry Festival, Fourth of July and Veterans Day parades. He was a sponsor of the Organ Crawl featuring The Dalles' five pipe organs.
Karl's interest in local and regional history resulted in several projects during his post-retirement years: concert selections and narratives for several "Historic The Dalles Days" programs; a concert and PowerPoint presentation that resulted in publication of his 2017 book, "Now Playing at the Vogt: The Dalles' Forgotten Opera House"; writing of blogs about buildings on The Dalles Art Center's "All Together The Dalles" photo-montage print and mural, published in book form in 2022; and he published an additional book on the architecture and history of local buildings, "All Together The Dalles Too," in 2023.
Karl was preceded in death by his parents, Govert and Esther (Ochs) Vercouteren; and Aunt, Elsie Fasse. Karl is survived by his wife, Jean (Anderson) Vercouteren. Karl and Jean were together for 61 years! Other survivors include brothers, Peter and Robert Vercouteren; daughter, Kristine (Vercouteren) Dombroski and husband John Dombroski; son, Jacob Vercouteren; grandson, Jodecy Vercouteren, AFS exchange student; son, David Timmers of Belgium, and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
A service will be held Saturday June 7, 1:30 p.m. at Zion Lutheran ELCA, 101 W. 10th St. The Dalles, OR. 97058. It will be live streamed via YouTube and available to be watched afterwards. For full obituary go to atc@andersonstributecenter.com.