Nicholas "Nick" Verstegen

Nicholas (Nick) Verstegen (July 24, 1943- July 10, 2024) appreciated the finer things in life: good food, good wine, travel, golf, and fast cars. The second of six children of Loretta Van Dyke Verstegen Hoelzel (d. 2015) and Clarence N. Verstegen (d. 1951), Nick grew up in Little Chute, travelled the world, retired from a successful career in the health sciences industry, and returned home for his final years. He passed away peacefully on July 10, 2024, in the company of family.

Nick was born in Crandon, WI and moved with his family to the Village of Little Chute following the death of his father when he was nine. He went on to be a letterman in football at Kimberly High School, then took a B.S. in Industrial Design at Stout State University in Menominee. He was an accomplished athlete, taking honors in competitive skiing and stock car racing, as well as developing a solid golf game.

In 1972, Nick opened the Rain Forrest Plant Store in Minneapolis. That interest in horticulture led to Nick obtaining a B.S. in plant pathology at the University of Minnesota. He then did a postgraduate student fellowship for two years at an agricultural institute in Morocco.

His professional career eventually landed him at the medical device manufacturer Medtronic, doing international business development for the company’s artificial heart. During this time, Nick travelled the world extensively for both business and pleasure. At every stop he steeped himself in the local culture, taking particular delight in the arts and cuisine.

He became an avid wine connoisseur, building up an impressive cellar of Bordeaux and other desirable vintages. His final postings for Medtronic were to Maastricht, Holland in 1996, where he supervised the launch of a new semiconductor manufacturing plant, and finally to Switzerland to oversee other operations.

Nick retired in the late 1990s and spent his leisure time in Minneapolis golfing, cooking, and gaming at casinos around the country, often in the company of his longtime companion Sandra (Sandy) Knobel. He purchased a second home in Gulfport, Mississippi shortly before Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast in 2005, and spent several years doing repairs and restoration.

In 2023, after a period of declining health, Nick returned to the Fox River Valley area to reside at the Silverstone Memory Care facility in Grand Chute, where he received frequent visits from his loved ones and outstanding care from the staff, especially Ashley and Rick from Moments Hospice. His sister Adele and her husband Gary Romenesko of Little Chute, as well as their adult children Chad Romenesko (Delana), Ryan Romenesko (Melissa), Luke Romenesko and Jill Peeters (Joseph), Nick’s sister Myrna Wydeven, and Nick’s step-brother Roy Hoelzel (Jan) and Sandy Knobel were particularly devoted during this difficult phase of Nick’s life.

Nick was preceded in death by his mother Loretta, father Clarence, brother Curt, stepfather Florian Hoelzel, and step-siblings Ron Hoelzel and Carol Kaufman. He is survived by sisters: Myrna Wydeven, Appleton; Adele Romenesko (Gary), Little Chute; Eunice Verstegen (Robert Salkowitz), Seattle, WA; Clare Verstegen, Tempe, AZ; step-brother Roy Hoelzel (Jan), New Richmond, WI, and many nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of life for Nick will be held August 10, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. at Verkuilen-Van Deurzen Family Funeral Home, 101 Canal Street, Little Chute. Visitation will begin at the funeral home at 10:00 a.m. and will continue until the time of the service.  The family gratefully appreciates any gifts to the Alzheimer’s Foundation in Nick’s honor.