By HDN Staff
Paul Joseph Verploegen, 72, local area farmer and rancher, died Thursday, Nov. 15, 2001, at his daughter's residence of pancreatic cancer.
A prayer vigil will be held at 7 p.m. today at the St. Jude Catholic Church. Funeral Mass will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Jude Catholic Church with Fr. Pete Guthneck officiating.
Burial will follow at the Cottonwood Cemetery. Fellowship luncheon is to follow burial at St. Jude Social Hall.
Paul was born Dec. 20, 1928, to John and Margaret (Baumann) Verploegen in Havre. He attended Cottonwood School, Havre High School, Carroll College and St. Norbert's College.
He worked in the Great Northern Railway diesel shop for 13 years. He also farmed and ranched north of Havre most of his life. Paul was a good farmer and enjoyed his work. His children and grandchildren were a great source of joy to him. He was active in the Catholic Church and served as a lector at St. John's Catholic Church at Cottonwood, as well as serving at the St. Jude Catholic Church on both the parish and financial councils. Paul was also a member of the Knights of Columbus.
Paul was preceded in death by his parents, John and Margaret (Baumann) Verploegen, and brothers, Karl Verploegen and Anton Verploegen.
Survivors include his sons, Karl (Shannon) Verploegen and Lance Verploegen, both north of Havre; daughters, Nicki (Joe) Verploegen Vandergrift of Uxbridge, Mass., Nita (Gerald) Johnson of Havre, Paula Jeanne (Jeff) Cory of Helena; sisters, Mary Verploegen and Hildegaard Verploegen, both of Honolulu, Hawaii, and Elizabeth Price of Great Falls; brothers, Hans Verploegen and Bill Verploegen, both of Havre, and Al Verploegen of Great Falls, seven grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to St. Jude Catholic School, 624 Fourth St., Havre, MT 59501.
Services and arrangements are under the direction of the Holland and Bonine Funeral Home.
