John Verdonk

John William Verdonk passed away in Greenville, South Carolina on December 29, 2023 at the age of 79. John was born on July 21, 1944 to John H. and Elizabeth Verdonk and lived in Bangor, Michigan most of his life.

John graduated from Bangor High School in 1962. While there he began dating his future wife, Lois Evelyn (Bregger) after they were both in the school play. Their dates included activities such as fishing, swimming and water-skiing. They wrote letters and visited each other frequently while John attended the University of Notre Dame and Lois attended Michigan State University. After they both graduated in 1966, John with a degree in accounting, they married on August 13th of that year.

After their marriage, they settled in the Detroit area where John attended law school while Lois taught elementary school. John graduated magna cum laude from the University of Detroit Law School in 1969. Their daughter Tara was also born that year. In 1970, they moved back to Bangor. Their sons John and David were born in 1972 and 1973 respectively. In Bangor, John joined the law firm his father had started and practiced law in Bangor for many years.

John enjoyed hunting, fishing, boating, playing golf and cards, vegetable gardening, and his pets which included many dogs and cats over the years, as well as hosting gatherings of family and friends at his home in Bangor. He took his family on many trips that included national parks and museums, which he loved to visit. His children have fond memories of the big pots of spaghetti and chili he loved to make, his attending their sporting events and cheering them on, his quiet generosity, his big-hearted welcoming of their friends and cousins visiting the home and swimming in the pool, and his joy at becoming a grandfather.

After the death of his beloved wife Lois in 2020, John moved to Greenville, South Carolina to be near son John L. and his family. There he enjoyed visiting their home regularly to watch sporting events and enjoy time with family. His children Tara and John and their families enjoyed a wonderful last family trip with him to the beach near Wilmington, North Carolina in the summer of 2022.

John was preceded in death by his brother William Peter in 2018, his son David in 2018, and by his wife Lois in 2020. He is survived by daughter Tara (William) Rougle of Alexandria, Virginia, son John L. (Jennifer) of Simpsonville, South Carolina, grandchildren Ashley and Joshua Verdonk, Eliana Rougle, step-granddaughter Wolfy (Michael Smith) Rougle, sisters Margie (Bruce) Moran of Bennington, New Hampshire, and Mary E. Thompson of Bloomington, IN , and many beloved nieces, nephews and cousins.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, July 19th at the First Congregational Church, 125 Charles Street, in Bangor, Michigan with visitation from noon to 1:30 p.m. and service at 1:30 p.m.