Rosie Verkuilen

Rosemary S. “Rosie” Verkuilen, age 89, died on her birthday, September 4, 2025, in Appleton, Wisconsin, after an extended battle with Parkinson’s Disease and dementia.  She was born September 4, 1936, in the Town of Vandenbroek, Wisconsin, to George and Helena (Ebben) Van Der Horst, the fifth of eight children.  Rosie was, by nearly sixteen years, the last surviving member of the family.  After moving in her childhood to Freedom, Wisconsin, Rosie attended St. Nicholas Grade School, and attended Freedom High School for her freshman year, after which her family moved to Kaukauna.  Rosie was a 1954 graduate of Kaukauna High School.  After high school, Rosie worked at Thilmany’s paper mill for several years before marriage. 

While in high school, she met Theodore (Ted) Verkuilen, Jr.  Rosie and Ted were married on September 9, 1958 at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Kaukauna.  Rosie did much work, especially bookkeeping, helping the family businesses, the Verkuilen Funeral Home and the Verkuilen Furniture Store, while also raising her children.  For many years, Rosie helped in the office at St. John’s Church in Little Chute.  The daughter of a Dutch immigrant, Rosie traveled to the Netherlands in 2016 to visit her father’s birth city of Boxtel, as well as a number of her Dutch relatives.  Rosie enjoyed spending time with her family, cheering on the Green Bay Packers, playing cards (especially Sheepshead), taking car rides, reading and studying the scriptures, and enjoying the family cottage on Legend Lake, and previously the cottage on Green Bay.  Her Catholic faith was very important to her.  Rosie was a strong supporter of education for her children and grandchildren.    

Rosie is survived by her son Jeffrey (Karen), and two daughters, Lisa (Jeffrey) Sheffler and Pauline (Cory) Allen; grandchildren John Verkuilen (fiancée Julia Brownstein), Katherine (Jacob) Ebsch, Michael (Jenna) Sheffler, Elizabeth Sheffler, Justin (Mariah) Allen, Grady (Kierra) Allen, Abigail Allen, and Madeline Allen (special friend Jared Corrigan); great-grandchildren Ellie Ebsch, Saylor Allen, Freya Allen, Willow Allen, and Michael and Jenna Sheffler’s forthcoming child; sisters-in-law Louise Van Der Horst and Janice Jansen; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. 

Rosie was preceded in death by her husband Theodore (in 2001), daughter Kathleen (in 1965); her parents George (in 1973) and Helena (in 1946); Ted’s parents Theodore Sr. and Mary (Fleischmann) Verkuilen; her family and their spouses:  Anna Mae (Harlan) Verhagen, Rev. John Van Der Horst, Joan (Joseph) Seif, Wilma (Harold, Jerome) Arnoldussen Nettekoven, Helen (Melvin) Seif, Theresa Van Der Horst, and Cyril Van Der Horst; Ted’s family:  Richard (Linda) Verkuilen, Carl Jansen, Mary Beth (Barney) Vanden Bloomer Belanger, Margaret Ann Verkuilen, and Michael (Lillian) Verkuilen; and several nieces and nephews. 

A visitation for family and friends will be held at St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church, 411 Vandenbroek Street, Little Chute, on Thursday, September 18, 2025 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., with a funeral Mass to follow at 5:00 p.m.  In honor of Rosie’s favorite color, we kindly invite you to wear yellow to her visitation and funeral Mass.  Interment will be in St. John’s Cemetery in Little Chute, next to her beloved Ted and Kathy. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. John Nepomucene School, to St. John Nepomucene Food Pantry, or to Smile Train. 

A special thank you to the staff at the Renaissance and Rennes in Appleton (especially Stephanie), to Bristol Hospice (especially Beverly and Katrina), Ashley Gehrke at the Neuroscience Group, and very kindly, to Dr. Carolyn Blanc at Theda Care, her primary care physician for many years.  We are grateful to all of you for taking kind, compassionate, and loving care of our Mom, Grandma, and Great-Grandma.