John Verschoor, Chamberlain

John Verschoor, 96, Chamberlain, died Monday, Feb. 11, 2013, at Mount Olivet Home, Minneapolis. He was born on June 26, 1916.

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at St. James Catholic Church, Chamberlain. Burial will be in Riverview Cemetery, Chamberlain.

Visitation will begin at 5 p.m. today at the church with a 7 p.m. Scripture/rosary service.

John Ryan Verschoor was born in Kimball 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, Neb.

Upon graduation, he returned to Mitchell, where he entered the automobile business with his father.

He and Pauline Louise Christian were married in May 1941.

Soon after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in December 1941, John was assigned first to the Fort Sill Air Force Base in Lawton, Okla.; 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 Gen. MacArthur in the Philippines, he spent time in New Guinea before returning to the U.S. 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 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 Jaycees 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.

Grateful for sharing his life are his children: Judy Burich, Prior Lake, Minn.; John J. Verschoor, Minneapolis; Margaret Verschoor, San Diego; and Jane LaBree and husband Tom, Minneapolis; 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.

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