Everell Jean Verbrigghe

Born on Christmas Eve in Cornell, Everell was the fourth child and first daughter of Eugene and Celeste (Richer) Miron. She grew up on the family dairy farm, milking cows at 11 years old and developed a strong work ethic and love of agriculture that shaped her entire life.

After attending school in Cornell and graduating from St. Joseph Catholic School, Everell distinguished herself as a member of the Cornell 4-H Club for eight years, she earned numerous honors, including club president, senior bean champion, and county honors eleven times. She won Michigan’s top 4-H achievement award, which took her to the National Convention in Washington, D.C., in 1953, where she met President Eisenhower. She won the First National Bank Scholarship to attend a 3-month course at Michigan State College. She was also crowned Potato Queen of Delta County.

On May 15, 1954, Everell married John Verbrigghe at Holy Family Church in Flat Rock, beginning a 68-year partnership. Together, they built a thriving dairy, beef, and potato farm, milking 50 heads of cattle and later grading potatoes until Everell was 72. They raised three children–Christine, Dan, and Terry, while creating a legacy of hard work and family devotion.

Everell was a woman of many talents and interests. A lifelong member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Perkins, she crocheted blankets for the parish, bowled with her daughter into her 80s, tended her garden, explored cookbooks for new recipes, played cards with family and friends, collected Coca-Cola memorabilia, and treasured time with family at their cottage on Mahskeekee Lake. She and John traveled the world together, visiting destinations from Hawaii to Morocco. Above all, she was her children’s and grandchildren’s biggest fan, rarely missing a game, activity, or Green Bay Packers game.

Everell is survived by her daughter Christine (Tom) Lofquist and their children Tracy (Matt) Maskart, Liza (Andrew) Soubel, Nicole (Joe) Osmolski, Jason (Kacey) Lofquist, and Renee (Steve) McNutt; son Dan (Karen) Verbrigghe and their daughter Chelsea (Tim) Gordon; son Terry (Mary) Verbrigghe and their children Shannon (Brad Leversee) Verbrigghe, TJ Verbrigghe, Brad Verbrigghe, and Tiffany (Sam) Marenger; ten grandchildren; many great-grandchildren; sister Geraldine (Paul) Savolainen; brothers Tony Miron and Gerald (Jean) Miron; Rosemary Miron; sister-in-law Madeline Judson; and brother-in-law Jerome (Judy) Verbrigghe and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband John; her parents; five children at birth; brothers Earl and Floyd Miron; and several sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law.

Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, at Anderson Funeral Home in Escanaba. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 4:00 p.m. Wednesday at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Perkins, with Father William Ssozi officiating. A meal will be served in the church fellowship hall following the services. Burial will take place at St. Nicholas Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed to St. Joseph Catholic Church in Perkins. The Anderson Funeral Home is assisting the Verbrigghe family with the arrangements and online condolences may be sent to the family at www.andersonfuneralhomes.net.