Winifred Emma (Curtis) Verlinde was born on February 4, 1919 in Volinia Twp., Cass County, Michigan. She was the youngest child of 6 children (4 brothers and 1 sister) born to Frank B. and Prudie Pardee (Simpson) Curtis. She was a graduate of Dowagiac Central High School Class of 1937. At age 21 she met her future husband, Mr. Emil J. Verlinde at a dance and after a 6 month long distance courtship, Mr. Verlinde thought that a marriage license and Holy matrimony would be much cheaper than a new car. So on October 12, 1940 they were married by a Justice of the Peace in Portland, MI. They soon purchased a 38 acre farm in St. Johns where she worked side by side milking cows, plowing and planting fields until they "retired" in 1985. During this time she gave birth to 5 sons, Donald, Michael, John, Paul and Thomas.
Preceding her in death were her parents, (Frank and Prudie Simpson Curtis. Sister Ella Nora, brothers James, Arthur Leroy, Homer K. Rolland V and husband Emil Joseph as well as sons John Royce and Paul Alan and daughter-in-law Kat.
Surviving her are sons Don Verlinde, Michael and Kathleen, Thomas and Lorri Verlinde. 10 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren.
They enjoyed dancing polkas and going to K of C dances. Everyone at the dances enjoyed Winifred's purse.
Funeral services will be held at Keck-Coleman Funeral Home on Thursday, May 7, 2015 at 10:00 A.M. with Deacon Marv Robertson officiating. Burial will follow at Mt. Rest Cemetery. The family will receive friends and relatives at the funeral home on Wednesday, May 6, 2015, 2-4 and 6-8 P.M. with a vigil service at 7:00 P.M. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice House of Mid-Michigan or St. Joseph Education Trust Fund.

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