Elizabeth S. Verdonk

Elizabeth S. Verdonk of Grand Junction, Michigan passed away on Monday, August 9, 2010, the last survivor of 10 children. She was born on April 17, 1918 in Saskatchewan, Canada. She was the daughter of John Kieffer and Margaret Gries Kieffer. She was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, John H. Verdonk, in 2007. Her father and mother homesteaded a farm in Canada. When she was a young girl, they sold it and moved to northern Wisconsin. She lived with her family on a dairy farm in Wisconsin until she graduated from high school. After graduation, she enrolled at Saint Mary’s College in South Bend, Indiana. She worked her way through college and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in dietetics. She married her college sweetheart, John H. Verdonk, on February 2, 1942. She is survived by four children from that union: John W. Verdonk (Lois) of Bangor, Michigan; Mary E. Thompson of Bloomington, Indiana; Margaret Ann Moran (Bruce) of Bennington, New Hampshire; William P. Verdonk of Grand Junction, Michigan. She is also survived by nine grandchildren: Tara Elizabeth Verdonk Rougle of Brasilia, Brazil; John L. Verdonk of Simpsonville, South Carolina; David A. Verdonk of Riverdale, Michigan; Marisa Moyna of Bloomington, Indiana; Stephanie Gilbert of Fischers, Indiana; Heather M. Bird of Goffstown, New Hampshire; William D. Verdonk of Naples, Florida; Eric M. Verdonk of Bonita Springs, Florida; Nichlaus J. Verdonk of Lake Forest, Illinois; and by six great-grandchildren: Tyler Verdonk, Xavier Gilbert, Ashley Verdonk, Allanah Gilbert, Eliana Rougle, and Emma Bird. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Bangor, Michigan for 54 years. She was a religious education teacher at Sacred Heart Church as well as a grade school teacher at Sacred Heart Catholic School. She was a member of the Daughters of Mary and participated in numerous church activities over the years. She was a member of the South Haven Country Club and the South Haven Yacht Club for many years. Her hobbies included cooking and canning, golf and bridge. She was a devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and will be missed by her whole family. Memorials may be made to the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, the Shriners Hospitals for Children or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The family will meet friends on Friday from 2-4 & 6-8 PM at the Bangor Chapel, D. L. Miller Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11:00 AM, Saturday, at Sacred Heart Church with Fr. Gordon Greene celebrant. Interment will follow in Grand Junction Cemetery, Columbia Township.

Elizabeth S. Verdonk

April 17, 1918 - August 9, 2010