Catherine J. (Smies) VerVelde, 83, of Oostburg, passed
away on Monday evening, February 26, 2018, at the Sharon S. Richardson
Community Hospice.
Catherine was born on June 29, 1934, in Philadelphia,
PA, daughter of the late Rev. Robert and Dorothy (Jenkins) Churchill. She was a
1951 graduate of Cedar Grove High School and then attended Sheboygan Business
College. On September 17, 1954, she married Norman R. Smies in Cedar Grove.
Norman preceded her in death on September 28, 1997. Catherine married Ralph VerVelde
on October 5, 2002 in Oostburg. Catherine was employed as a secretary at Curt
G. Joa, Inc. for 27 years until her retirement in
2003.
Catherine was a member of Bethel Orthodox Presbyterian
Church in Oostburg, where she was active in the choir, Women’s Mentoring
Program, as a Sunday school teacher, and in the Crossroad Bible studies
for prison inmates. She enjoyed making cookies, reading,
birdwatching, knitting, flowers, and especially spending time with her family.
Catherine is survived by her husband of 15 years, Ralph;
her two daughters, Deb (Joe) Wojnarowski of Milwaukee and Shirl Smies of
Chattanooga, TN; her two sons, Dale Smies of Sheboygan and Corey Smies of
Deerfield; her grandson, Jacob (fiancé Hannah Contreras) Smies; a great
grandaughter, Gabrielle Smies; two step-sons, Tom (Leila) VerVelde of Cedar
Grove and Paul (Margaret) VerVelde, of Oostburg; two step-daughters, Sharon
(Bill) Brownell of Gibbsville and Sarah (Jason) Alsum of Oostburg; 17 step-grandchildren;
Ethan (Lindsey), Marshall, Caitlin, Graham, and Stuart VerVelde, Jocelyn,
Jesse, Josiah, Jo-Leigh, and Janeese VerVelde, Brandon (Rachel) VerVelde,
Gabrielle Brownell, Michael, Caleb, Matthew, Nathan and Daniel Alsum; two
sisters, Nancy (Harlan) Harmelink of Sheboygan and Mary Flachs of Albuquerque,
NM; nieces and
nephews.
Catherine was preceded in death by her first husband,
Norman, a
sister-in-law, Virginia VerVelde; and two
brothers-in-law, Gerald Flachs and Andrew (Jane) Smies.
Funeral services to celebrate Catherine’s life will be
held at Bethel
Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Oostburg at 10:30 am on
Friday, March 2, 2018 with Rev. David Veldhorst officiating. Burial will take
place at Oostburg Cemetery in the Town of Holland.
Relatives and friends may greet the family at the Wenig
Funeral Home in
Oostburg on Thursday from 4-7 pm, and at church, on
Friday from 9:30 am until the time of the service at 10:30 am.
A memorial fund has been established in Catherine’s name
for Sheboygan County Christian School and Westminster Seminary East.
For online condolences and additional information please
visit
www.wenigfh.com
.
The staff of the Wenig Funeral Home of Oostburg
(920-564-2771) is assisting Catherine’s family with arrangements.
