Obit: Erickson, Verna (1922 - 2015)

Contact: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

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

----Source: The Owen-Withee Enterprise (Owen, WI) 12/29/2015

Erickson, Verna (Buschman) (31 OCT 1922 - 27 DEC 2015)

Verna Erickson began her life as Octavia Veronica Bushman on October 31st, 1922.

She was the youngest of 7 children born to Peter and Josephine (Wanderski) Buschman.

She married her husband Arthur Erickson in 1942. Their son Robert was born in 1943 and their daughter Marilyn (Erickson) Ovyn was born in 1946.

The Erickson’s made their first home in Rockford, Illinois. Verna worked any years for the National Lock Company in Rockford before the Erickson’s purchased the Redville Store and moved to Withee in 1957. Verna was a true business woman and the 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 wonderful memory, a great 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. She passed away on December 27th.

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

A celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, January 2nd from 1-4 at the Black River Sportsman’s Club located at 201 Division Street, Withee.