Obit: Erickson, Octavia Veronica “Verna” (1922 - 2015)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Erickson, Wanderski, Bushman, Ovyn, Vieregge, Fritz

----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark Co., WI) 12/30/2015

Erickson, Octavia Veronica “Verna” (31 October 1922 - 27 December 2015)

Verna Erickson passed away peacefully at the age of 93 on Sunday, December 27, 2015, at Clark County Health Care Center in Hoard, WI.

Verna Erickson began her life as Octavia Veronica Bushman on October 31, 1922. She was the youngest of seven children born to Peter and Josephine (Wanderski) Bushman. She married her husband, Arthur Erickson, in 1942. Their son Robert Erickson was born in 1943, and their daughter, Marilyn (Ovyn), was born in 1946. The Erickson’s made their first home in Rockford, IL. Verna worked many years for the National Lock Company in Rockford before the Erickson’s purchased the Redville Store and moved to Withee in 1957. Verna found her true calling when she began her life as the proprietor of the little country store. She was a true businesswoman and that glue that kept a small community together. Verna lost her husband, Art, in 1993, but she kept running the store right up until December of 2014.

She was also a wonderful cook and loved to cook meals for her family, friends, neighbors and her hunters. She was a member of the Redville “Canoe Club” and the American Legion Auxiliary. She had a quick wit, a sense of humor and a very generous giving nature.

For the past year Verna made her home at the Clark County Rehabilitation and Living Center where she made many new friends and received such excellent care. She was always commenting on how wonderful the staff was to her and how much she appreciated the excellent care she received.

Verna will be dearly missed by her family. She is survived by her children: Robert Erickson of Withee, Marilyn (Dennis) Ovyn of Withee; four grandchildren: Christine (Don) Vieregge of Hudson, Bill (Tanya) Ovyn of Withee, Joel (Cindy) Ovyn of Withee, Darren (Jennifer) Ovyn of Withee; and nine great-grandchildren: Sacia Vieregge of Hudson, Haley Ovyn, Jake Ovyn, Jordan Ovyn, Jed Ovyn, Alissa Fritz, A.J. Ovyn, Aaron Ovyn, Alivia Ovyn all of Withee.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, January 2, 2015 from 1 - 4 at the Black River Sportsman Club located at 201 Division St. Withee, WI 54498.

Online Condolences may be made at www.cremationsociety-wi.com.  Cremation Society of Wisconsin is serving the family.