Ethel E. Veerkamp

Ethel E. Veerkamp, passed away on Saturday, October 13, 2018 at the age of 75 years. Ethel was born on September 24, 1943 in Bremerton, WA, the daughter of Albert and Johanna (Schulz) Koenig. Ethel spent her early years living in McLaughlin, SD. In 1955 her father relocated the family to Anaconda, MT where she graduated high school in 1961. After graduation she worked for Western life Insurance Company and transferred with the company to St. Paul, MN. In Minnesota Ethel met Al on a blind date June 1963 at a BBQ arranged by her cousin. They married on June 27, 1964. She continued to work for Napco Industries until the birth of her first child, Jody, in 1966. Her second child, Tony, was born in 1968. Al and Ethel purchased a small farm in Cannon Falls, MN and left the Twin Cities. Ethel had her third child, Jenelle, in 1974. She had her fourth child, Derek, by adoption in 1976. In 1977 Ethel attended college at Inver Hills Community College and then transferred to River Falls, WI where she earned a Bachelors of Science in Accounting in 1985. During this time she provided loving care to her father who had battled cancer for 8 years and passed away in 1984. Ethel received her CPA license in 1987. She worked as an auditor for Goodhue County, MN from 1987 until her retirement in 1998. After retirement she was an accountant for St. Mathias Catholic Church for five years. Ethel and Al moved from the farm to the town of Cannon Falls in 1993. Subsequently they moved to Dundas, MN and then reunited with her daughter, Jenelle's family, by moving to Springfield, MO in 2011. Starting in 2005 they began spending their Winters in Phoenix AZ. Ethel is survived by her husband of 54 years Alphonse (Al) A. Veerkamp, daughter Jody Demos, son Alphonse "Tony" (Carina) Veerkamp, Jr., son Derek Veerkamp, and daughter Jenelle (Josh) Smith. Also surviving is brother Kenneth (Laurie) Koenig and brother Howard (Marilyn) Koenig. As well as her five grandchildren Ezri, Kira, Tiernan, Zoey, and Aviana. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Florence Walker, and brother Reinhold Koenig. A Memorial Mass will be held in Ethel's honor at 10:00am on Friday, October 19, 2018 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Springfield, MO. Friends and relatives are invited to attend the Vigil Service at the church on the evening prior to the service, Thursday, October 18, 2018 at 7:00pm. Burial will be held at the National Cemetery in Springfield at a later date.