Roger Roman Verhaalen

Roger Roman Verhaalen, age 89, joined his Lord on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024.

He was born on Jan. 21, 1935, in Newburg to Raymond and Eleanor (nee Fischer) Verhaalen.

He lived most of his life in the Town of Saukville.

Roger was a 1953 graduate of Cedarburg High School.

He served in the Army from 1953 to 1955.

He had a love of learning and a mechanical aptitude. He attended some classes at Marquette University and took a correspondence course at the University of Wisconsin.

He worked at Harley Davidson early in his career and served an apprenticeship to become a tool and die maker.

Roger will be lovingly remembered by his children Susan (Daniel) Kannenberg, Michael (Leeann) Verhaalen and Jill (Greg) Sieren. He will also be fondly remembered by grandchildren Nathaniel (Nadxiieli) Kannenberg and their two children, Nicholas, Kelly, Jonathan and Olivia Verhaalen and Benjamin (Daphne), Jesse, Reily and Charles Sieren.

Roger is further survived by first cousins Carol Conrad and Carina Verhaalen, sister and brother-in-law Marcella and Jerry Bell, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Roger was preceded in death by his loving wife Alice, son Ryan Verhaalen, his parents and brothers Raymond Jr. and Clarence Verhaalen.

Roger was employed for many years at Mercury Marine in Cedarburg. He also worked at American Can Co. in Milwaukee and Carlson Tool in Cedarburg. He finished his career working for RAM Tool in Grafton. Roger was a good teacher in his work and taught many apprentices important skills.

Roger had a lifelong love of the outdoors, being a Boy Scout and reaching the rank of Life Scout. He planted tens of thousands of trees over his lifetime, many of them in northern Wisconsin.

He had skill in working with wood and made some beautiful pieces, including a working spinning wheel and small decorative church windows for his wife and children.

He loved deer hunting, but we think he enjoyed watching them more than shooting them. He loved spending time with his sons and grandsons on his land up north during deer hunting.

Roger also had a love of dogs and had several over the years plus a feral cat he befriended to the point of it becoming a housecat.

Roger also had a talent for baking sweet things and bread. He was competent in the kitchen.

He was also good at drawing blueprints and seeing them through to completion. He designed both his home of 60 years and a beautiful shed that many mistook for a smaller house. He did as much of the work himself as he could on both structures.

A funeral service was held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, at Phillip Funeral Home Chapel, 1420 W. Paradise Dr., West Bend 53095. Visitation was at the funeral home on Tuesday, Aug. 20, from 4 until 5:45 p.m.

Burial with full military honors was Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024, at 1 p.m. at Holy Trinity Catholic Cemetery in Newburg.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are appreciated to the Milwaukee VA Fisher House.

A special thank you to the wonderful care received at the VA Hospital in Milwaukee for two decades in the wound clinic. All the nurses are top notch! A thank you also to the home-based primary care team at the VA who took such good care of him. Thanks also to Mike, Theresa and Katherine at Preceptor Home Care. Thank you to Jess, RN! Thank you also for the good care dad received at Ascension St. Mary’s Hospital, where he said that everyone was “so nice.” A special thank you to nurses Terry and Sharon and to Dr. Stein.

A special shout out to Joe and Marie at Hamilton House, with whom dad formed close friendships.   

Phillip Funeral Home of West Bend is assisting the family.

www.phillipfuneralhome.com

(262) 338-2050