John Verschoor, eldest grandchild of Batt and Liza Ryan

1965 Verschoor family portrait. John is located in the top row, second from the left. Back row: Bill John Paul Bob Fron Row: Virginia Patrick Vernille

 

John R Verschoor
(June 26, 1916 - February 11, 2013)

Funeral services for John Verschoor, 96, of Chamberlain will be Saturday, February 16, 2013 at 1:00 pm at St. James Catholic Church and burial in the Riverview Cemetery at Chamberlain. Visitation will begin Friday at 4 pm with a scripture/rosary service at 6 pm at St. James Catholic Church in Chamberlain.

John Ryan Verschoor was born on June 26, 1916, in Kimball, SD, to John J (Jack) and Ethel (Ryan) Verschoor, the oldest of seven children. He graduated from Notre Dame Academy in Mitchell, and from Creighton University, Omaha, NE. Upon graduation he returned to Mitchell where he entered the automobile business with his father. He and Pauline Louise Christian were married in May of 1941. Soon after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in December 1941, John was assigned first to the Air Force Base Fort Sill in Lawton, Oklahoma, and then to Fort Bliss in San Antonio, Texas. During World War II John served with the Army Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Southwest Pacific Arena and the Philippines. After witnessing the surrender of the Japanese to General MacArthur in the Philippines, he spent time in New Guinea before returning to the US in 1946.

He and Pauline moved with their family to Chamberlain in 1949, where John owned and operated a Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, and Cadillac dealership until 1975. Later he was part owner of the Chamberlain Wholesale Company.

While in Chamberlain John was active in the St. James Catholic Church and was selected as Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus. He was very involved in the Right to Life Movement. He was Jaycee President and served on the City Commission. He also served as President of the Omaha Zone Chevrolet Dealers Association.

John and Pauline traveled extensively. Some of their favorite trips were to Ireland, Australia, Rome, and Jerusalem.. A highlight of their Australian trip was a visit to Darwin with members of his 49th Air Depot Group. Darwin was the site of their World War II assignment.

Some of his hobbies included boating on the Missouri River, gardening and collecting jazz records. He was a loving father and grandfather who enjoyed many activities with his family.

John passed away on February 11, 2013, at Mount Olivet Home in Minneapolis, MN at the age of 96. Grateful for sharing his life are his children Judy Burich of Prior Lake, MN; John J. Verschoor of Minneapolis, MN; Margaret Verschoor of San Diego, CA; and Jane LaBree and husband Tom of Minneapolis, MN; his five grandchildren Laura, Todd, Heather, Aimee and Matt; eight great-grandchildren; a brother Patrick; a sister Virginia; and a sister-in-law Bernice Dunn. Preceding him in death were his wife Pauline in 2011, his infant son Peter, his parents, three brothers - Robert, Bill, and Paul, and one sister Vernile.