Paul Kenneth Verhagen

1955 - 2021

Paul Kenneth Verhagen arrived in this world on 19 January, 1955, in Green Bay, Wisconsin, to Kenneth W. Verhagen and Phyllis May Parmentier. Due to the Korean War, his father didn't see him until almost a year later. Born an Air Force brat, Paul lived and traveled with his family at a very young age. He lived in Wisconsin, Alabama, Germany, Virginia and Hawaii. And traveled to many countries in Asia and Europe. Paul attended Leilehua High School while his father was stationed at Wheeler AFB on Oahu.
It was there that he was introduced to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and he has been an active and faithful member since that time. From 1974 to 1976 he served a mission in Mexico. After his mission, he went to college at BYU Hawaii Campus. It was there, in choir class, that he met and dated his eternal sweetheart, Merrily Hill. They were married in the Mesa Arizona Temple in 1978. Paul went to two more years of college at BYU Provo Campus. His first two daughters were born in Utah.
Through a personal friend, Glenn Gregory, Paul and Merrily received a job offer in Tanana, Alaska. Thus began his Alaska adventure, which lasted for the rest of his life. Seven years after living in Tanana, Paul was transferred to Nenana, Alaska, where he worked as a magistrate for the Alaska Court System for 23 years. He was also a businessman and an entrepreneur.
Paul loved politics and after his retirement from the court he served as a leader and a delegate for the Republican Party. He worked five sessions in Juneau as a legislative aid for different representatives. He loved Juneau - the people and the place. He also lived in Fairbanks for two years during a temporary transfer working at the District Courthouse downtown. But Nenana was "home." He loved people, seeing potential in everyone, served the community and state, and he dreamed of the possibilities of making the world a better place.
The other place that he called home was Hawaii. He spent many a vacation visiting his parents, sister and brother on Oahu and Maui.
He was proceeded in death by his parents, Ken and Phyllis Verhagen; sister, Nancy Graber Canubida; father-in-law, James Hill; and brothers-in-law, Jonathan and Lee Hill.
He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Merrily, and his mother-in-law, Marie Hill Stock; his brother, Patrick Verhagen, and brother-in-law, Victor Canubida; his sisters-in-law, Crystal Hill Voss (Lance) and Lorie Hill Stout (Jim); his nine children, daughters Elisabeth Ames, Esther (Michael) Smith, Sherin (Layne) Stark, Kristi (Cory) Dugan and Merry Lee Verhagen, and sons Samuel (Evelyn), Joshua (Amie), Elijah (Erin) and Joseph (Laura) Verhagen; 36 grandchildren, Hyrum, Emma-Li, Rachel, Rebekah, Kathryn, Ben, Liahona and Moses Ames; Chantelle, Lauren, Miriam, Elaina, Alexander, William, Lillian and Dallin Smith; Corbin, Cassie, Weston and Cammie Stark; David, Eliza, Luke, Charlotte, Clara, Owen, Gabe and Christian Dugan. Johnny, Ephriam, Levi, Sammy, and Audrey Verhagen; James and Kenneth Verhagen and Jacob Verhagen.
He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and tons of close friends. Also survived by the Reed Prestgard Family of Orem, Utah who he "adopted" as his own.
A Celebration of Life will be held June 6 at 4:30pm at the Nenana Civic Center on A Street and First. Burial will take place at a later date on the island of Oahu.
Paul died of complications of Parkinson's Disease and was lovingly taken care of by family, friends, doctors, nurses, and FMH Hospice until the time of his passing on the morning of May 16, 2021 in Fairbanks. Fittingly it was Ascension Day. His wife, children, grandchildren and several of his friends were by his side to the end and able to say their last goodbyes.
A Go-Fund-Me Account has been set up for the family's funeral expenses. https://gofund.me/b66eb6bc. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Nenana Public Library.