Gary Verhoeven

Gary Lee Verhoeven was born on July 10, 1945, to Bill and Sue Verhoeven. He went Home to be with his Lord and Savior on Sept. 10, 2015. Gary was raised in a loving Christian home in Bellflower, California, where he graduated from Valley Christian School. In 1964 he married his high school sweetheart, Gertrude Visser. Soon after, they moved to Chino, California, where they raised their three daughters, Denise, Stephanie, and Shelly. In 1992 Gary moved his family to Roswell, New Mexico, to fulfill his lifelong dream of dairy farming and how he loved working on his dairy. He was a founding member of Select Milk Producers and served as a Board Member, Officer, and Committee Chairman since 1994. Although Gary saw some good years in the dairy industry, God's plan was to make him rich in the grace, mercy, forgiveness and love of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Gary joined the Emmaus Community and later became part of the Kairos Prison Ministry team.
Gary truly enjoyed time spent with his family and friends. After being diagnosed with cancer in Sept. 2013, the past two years were filled with wonderful memories marking off his bucket list with his family.
He will be greatly missed by his wife Gertrude, his children and grandchildren - Denise and Randy Vander Meulen (Rachelle and Shaun O'Brien, Natalie, and Jacob), Stephanie and Mike Visser (Jared, JP, and Justin), Shelly and Jeff Lackey (Jachan and Jayce). He is also survived by his siblings Marcia Fikse, Sandy and John Van Dyk, and Cotton and Betsy Verhoeven and many special nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents.
The family is grateful for the care he received at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, and for his care by Dr. Evan Nelson, Dr. Hamid Feroze, and Dr. Tareq Braik of Roswell. We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to Jodie Rogers of Gentiva Hospice for her compassion, kindness and loving care shown to him the last 4 months.
A visitation will be held at LaGrone Funeral Chapel from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm, Thursday, September 17, 2015. A graveside service will be held 10:30 am, Friday, September 18, 2015 at South Park Cemetery. A memorial service will be held 11:30 am, Friday, September 18, 2015 at First Presbyterian Church of Dexter, 201 W 5th Street, Dexter, NM, 88230.
Gary had a heart for the message of salvation through Christian radio and Christian education. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that his memory be honored with memorial gifts to Family Life Radio, P.O Box 35300, Tucson, AZ, 85740 (Gary Verhoeven FLR memorial fund) or to Blackhawk Christian Schools, 7400 E. State Blvd, Fort Wayne, IN 46815 (designated Gary Verhoeven memorial).
Arrangements are under the personal care of LaGrone Funeral Chapel.
Online condolences may be made at www.lagronefuneralchapels.com

Visitation

LaGrone Funeral Chapel
900 South Main
Roswell, NM  88203
Thursday, September 17, 2015
5:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Service

Graveside

South Park Cemetery
3101 S. Main
Roswell, NM  88201
Friday, September 18, 2015
10:30 a.m.

First Presbyterian Church
201 W. 5th St.
Dexter, NM  88230
Friday, September 18, 2015
11:30 am

Cemetery

South Park Cemetery
3101 S. Main
Roswell, NM  88203