Obituary of Marvin C. Verkuilen

MOUNT ARLINGTON---Marvin Cyril "Marv" Verkuilen, 81, of Mt. Arlington, N.J. (formally of Rockaway), the loving husband of Maureen, died on April 4, 2012. A son of the late Jacob and Gertrude Verkuilen, Marv was born in Appleton, WI. After graduating from Appleton High School, where he was a five-sport athlete, he and five of his buddies joined the Marine Corps. Marv was sent off to fight in Korea (the "Forgotten War") where he was one of the "Chosin Few" who survived one of the hardest fought battles in the history of war at the battle of Chosin Reservoir. After his discharge, he went to work for Wisconsin Bell and transferred to New Jersey Bell where he worked for 38 years. His life revolved around his children's' activities where he was very involved in all levels from volunteer to coach for his sons and daughters football, baseball and basketball and swimming. Always a proud Marine, he was a past-Post Commander of VFW # 2519 in Denville, active in the Marine Corps League and, most important to him, the Chosin Few Organization. With always one of his many golden retrievers by his side, you would see him on his four mile walk on the boulevard on a daily basis. He was predeceased by his beloved daughter-in-law Mitsue and sister Marge Pasholk and is survived by his beloved wife of 54 years, Maureen (nee Kapp) and his five children, Michael (Georgia), Mark (Renee), Margaret Micki Mollahan (Tom), Mary Jo Sharick (Jim) and Matthew (Joanne) and his 16 grandchildren Michael, Nick, Alexa Verkuilen; Dan (Jennie), Tom Verkuilen; Madeline, Meghan, Caitlin and Kelly Mollahan; Jake, Nick, and Jenna Sharick; Jacqueline and Abigail Verkuilen and 1 great granddaughter Maliyah Mitsue Verkuilen. Also surviving are three brothers Donald, Vernon and Thomas and sister Sharon Rammer and brother-in-law John Kapp (Mary Ellen), along with many nieces and nephews, and cousins. He leaves behind his best friend Jim Molloy and all of his Appleton buddies. A memorial mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, April 10th at 11:00 A.M. at St. Catherine of Siena Church, 10 N. Pocono Rd., Mountain Lakes. Memorial visitation, to which all are welcome, will be held on Monday, April 9th from 2-4 & 7-9 PM at the Mackey Funeral Home ( www.mackeyfh.com), 107 Essex Avenue, Boonton. Marv's final resting place will be in Arlington National Cemetery alongside all the other brave men and women who served to protect our country. Memorial contributions in Marv's name may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home or may be made at www.woundedwarriorproject.org. SEMPER FI.