Eugene A. "Gene" Verhagen, Kaukauna, age 93, died Wednesday, April 6, 2016 at Atrium Post Acute Care in Little Chute. He was born on March 29, 1923 in Kaukauna to the late Louis and Catherine (Bergman) Verhagen.

Eugene enlisted into the Navy in November, 1942 and was sent to serve on a British war ship in the Atlantic for six months to teach communication techniques and sailed down to South Africa of the Cape of Good Hope, which he found to be quite a unique experience. Later, he went to Hoboken, New Jersey for a short stay and then on to San Francisco, California for another six months. In December of 1943, he was sent to the South Pacific and was a First Class Signalman with the PT Boats. He was discharged in December, 1945.

Gene met the love of his life, Rita, on a blind date on Christmas Eve, 1943. He asked her to be his pen pal when he went overseas for 2 years. Upon his discharge at Great Lakes, IL he returned to California by car for a brief visit at Rita's home. During the visit, he proposed to her. They quickly planned a formal wedding within 2 weeks and rode back to Wisconsin together.
From that time on, Gene and Rita journeyed on into marital bliss, starting out very humbly in a three room upstairs apartment with no running water. Thanks to their new neighbors downstairs, they worked out a plan to share water and bathroom facilities. Gene and Rita called their new home "Seventh Heaven" and felt very fortunate to have their apartment as they were hard to get at the time. Home furnishings were slow in coming into the market after WWII, so they had to put their names on a waiting list to buy a refrigerator and stove. In the meantime, Gene and Rita managed with a two burner hot plate and an icebox, having chunks of ice delivered twice a week or more. Eventually, water was piped up into their apartment and they were able to purchase a refrigerator, electric stove and washing machine. Because of that humble beginning, they learned to appreciate everything they worked for from then on.

Gene and Rita were blessed with two children in that apartment born a year apart, which meant that they surely needed more room! Thankfully, they were able to purchase the empty lot next door to them and built a modest story and a half cape cod style home. Gene and his brothers worked together to build that home. Later, two more children were welcomed into the home.

Gene retired from Appleton Papers, Locks Mill in 1985 after 44 years of service as a millwright.
He was a hardworking man and had a great crew to work with for many years. Gene enjoyed his job because it presented him with a different challenge almost every day.

Gene became a member of the American Legion Post 41 in Kaukauna and the Quarter Century Club at Appleton Papers Locks Mill. He was a lifelong member of St. Katharine Drexel Parish (St. Mary of the Annunciation Church) in Kaukauna. Gene was a Mass server all through school and into his adult years and was one of the first lay persons to become a lector and Eucharistic minister there. Gene and Rita taught CCD to high school students. He ushered for many years and was the parish handyman.

In addition to making many things for the parish, he also made things for family and friends. Gene loved working with wood but in later years, acquired a hobby better suited to his health and became a "hooker" – working on a loom to make latch hook rugs and wall hangings for family and friends.

Gene and Rita enjoyed traveling to California by car, train and planes. They took two Hawaiian cruises and one to the Caribbean. Gene and Rita enjoyed golfing and playing cards. They were Packer season ticket holders for 38 years and greatly enjoyed the Lombardi and Holmgren eras.

Gene is survived by his wife of 70 years, Rita; children: Linda (Jim) Allen of Novato, CA; Ronald (Lynn) of Appleton; Diane (Bill) Murphy of Appleton; and Louis (Laurie) of Sheboygan; grandchildren: Jason (Coreen Baker) Allen, Dana (Mark) Aughney, Robert (Terri) Verhagen, Pete Verhagen, Erin (Dan) Dunbar, Heather Bastjan, Michael (Heidi Welk) Verhagen and Thomas Verhagen; great grandchildren: Kayla and Alicia Verhagen, Keara and Devin Aughney, Caitlin, Raegan and Rory Dunbar, Blake and Emily Bastjan and Hunter Allen; great great grandson: Bentley; and sister-in-law: Beatrice Lufi. He is further survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

In addition to his parents, Gene was preceded in death by his sisters: Leucina (infant), Johanna (Clarence) Fink, Regina (Walter) Swanningson and Rosemary (Vincent Biese, William) Kramer; by brothers: Steven, Ervin (Dorothy), Melvin and Jerome (Kathryn); sister-in-law: Helen (Devo) Mason; and brother-in-law: Harvey Lufi.

Visitation will be held Friday, April 15, 2016 at ST. KATHARINE DREXEL PARISH – ST. MARY CHURCH (119 W. 7th St. Kaukauna) beginning at 10:00 a.m. until time of Mass at 12:00 Noon. The Rev. Jerome Pastors will officiate. Military rites conducted by the American Legion Post 41 will immediately follow. Committal Holy Cross Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, a memorial is being established.

Gene's family would like to thank the Theda Care at Home Hospice team – Amy, Jill, Jessica, Ida and Chaplain Stuart for the love and care he received.

Gene's faith in God was very strong and it was very natural for him to rely on that faith because of the many blessings throughout his life. The chance meeting with Rita was part of God's plan for him and the many happy years of marriage, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, great great grandchildren, family and friends have become the great rewards of that partnership. Praise the Lord!