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Obituary- Verschelden, George E. d. 1993 3

There Will Never Be Another George!
by Dorothy N. Hoobler
How many times have you heard those words, or expressed a similar sentiment yourself, in the long days since you first learned of the collapse of George Verschelden on Saturday afternoon, November 6? His death on November 15, 1993, left a void which will never be filled, not only in St. Marys, but in the surrounding communities as well. There are few families whose lives he has not touched.

George was a very special person, not only in his professional life, but in his personal life, too. He was a man whom we were all proud to call “friend.” The throngs who at¬tended the Rosary and the funeral are testimony of the respect he had earned from so many.

George E. Verschelden was born January 20, 1931, in St. Marys. He spent his entire life here. He loved this town and was one of its biggest boosters. He was one of the youngsters enrolled in Mrs. Katherine Guilfoyle’s kindergarten class. He from St. Marys High
School soon after the public and the parochial school systems merged.

A member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus Council No. 657, he also served on the Church Council. George was a long-time member of the Chamber of Commerce, and served on the St. Marys Housing Authority. He was on the Board of Directors of the St. Marys Senior Center, although he was too young to be a “senior citizen.”

Verschelden graduated from the Kansas City College of Mortuary Science. He followed in the professional footsteps of his grandfather, known as Dr. O. Verschelden, a native of Belgium, and his own parents, George and Catherine Johnston Verschelden. The Verschelden Funeral Home has been in the family since 1894, and is the oldest continuously existing family-owned firm in St. Marys. George had operated the mortuary since 1952.

On August 2, of that same year, he was married. His bride was the pretty high school music teacher with the beautiful voice, Miss Marguerite Mercier of Wymore, Nebr. She’s better known as Peggy.

Working together, George and Peggy made a good team. Although it must have been very difficult to face the grim reality of death so frequently, they never failed to offer compassion and comfort to those who mourned. They had a special way of helping you through that rough time, and you always knew they really did care.

Everyone who knew him has his own favorite “George Story.” My first “Whatever would we do without George?’ experience happened many years ago, when he also provided the town with ambulance service. As critically ill as I was, I vividly remember his gentleness as he helped lift me onto the stretcher. He drove quickly, but cautiously. (There was no speed limit in those years.) And, he thoughtfully waited at the hospital until my husband arrived.

Over the years, I have come to realize this concern was “typically George.” He treated everyone with the same kindness and consideration.

As a funeral director and embalmer, George had a special talent, a rare gift. No matter how ill, aged, or infirm your loved one had been, he did his job so well, you were left with a good memory. So many times, I complimented him with a phrase from an old Gospel hymn, “You got another star in your crown today.” He’d smile that shy, embarrassed “ah, shucks” smile. George was extremely competent, but he was also very modest. As he saw it, he was only doing his job.

A member of the Sunflower Striders, Topeka, he was an avid runner. Running was a challenge, and a change from the stress of his occupation. What irony that he collapsed just after completing his last race. And, yet, I think of George when I read the Scripture verse in 2 Timothy, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race. I have kept the faith.”

It is also fitting that a memorial fund has been established for two of his special interests, the Immaculate Conception Centennial Building Restoration and the Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Regional Library.

George Verschelden is survived by his wife and his partner, Peggy; four sons — David, Matthew, Timothy, and Mark; three daughters — Patricia, Cia, and Mary; two brothers — Robert and Michael; two sisters — Katrina and Maria; and ten grandchildren.

George loved his wife, his children, his grandchildren, his church, his community, and his friends. He was loved in return. There are times when there seem to be no words to adequately express just how sad and helpless we feel. George’s untimely death is one of those occasions.

To Peggy and the family, we can only say, “We are so sorry and we really care. We offer our love, our sympathy, and our prayers.”

And, to our friend, George, who gave so much so willingly, we say, “Thank You” and “Peace.”

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