Cover photo for Prosper  Edward Verheeck's Obituary
Prosper  Edward Verheeck Profile Photo

Prosper Edward Verheeck

d. February 13, 2014

Prosper Edward Verheeck

Prosper Edward Verheeck, 83, passed away on February 13, 2014. He was known by friends and family as “Ed,” “Eddie,” or “Sonny.” Ed was born in Prospect Park, New Jersey on December 25, 1930, and was the oldest of six siblings. He graduated from Hackensack High School in 1948. In February of 1950 he joined the US Air Force and was assigned to Keesler AFB, where he completed the Airborne Radar Maintenance Specialist course and subsequently became an instructor. While stationed at Keesler AFB, he met Virgie “TeMae” Thibodeaux of Biloxi, Mississippi. They were engaged shortly before he was reassigned to an overseas tour. In September 1952, he was assigned to Tachikawa AFB and later Ashiya AFB in Japan. During his service, he was promoted to S/Sgt. and earned a Good Conduct Medal, Korean Service Medal with two Bronze Service Stars, GO 114/53, Hq. FEAF, United Nations Service Medal, and National Defense Service Medal. He returned to the US and was honorably discharged in January 1954. Ed and Virgie were married on the 31st of the same month. After a long honeymoon, Ed began college at the University of Southern Mississippi, and finished a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Mississippi State University in 1957. He began his civilian career with the USAF Engineering and Installations Agency at Brookley AFB in 1957, and was later promoted to a Supervisory Electronic Engineer position at Keesler AFB in 1960. He and Virgie bought a house in Gulf Hills, near Ocean Springs, Mississippi, and were residents for over 50 years. They had one daughter. During his career at Keesler AFB, he received many awards and promotions, retiring in January of 1995 from the position of Director of the Office of Evaluations, 393 Technical Training Group. Ed went on trips around the US and the world for business, and took his family whenever possible. After his retirement, he and Virgie continued travelling, and had several wonderful vacations together. Ed was a member of the American Legion Post 119 and a former member of the Krewe of Les Pierrots. He was warm but reserved. His favorite hobby was gardening. In later years he enjoyed meeting up with family to dine at the local casinos. Ed was preceded in death by his wife, Virgie Thibodeaux Verheeck. He is survived by his daughter, Stacey Morton and granddaughter, Sarah Morton of Loganville, Georgia; two sisters, Marilyn Coleman of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, and Carolyn Lane of Los Osos, California; and three brothers, Robert Verheeck of Gautier, Mississippi, Walter Verheeck of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, and Kenneth Verheeck of Lake Charles, Louisiana. In lieu of flowers the family prefers donations be made to the American Legion, Post 119 Building Fund, P.O. Box 3540 Gulfport, MS 39505. Visitation will be held at the Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home on Wednesday, February 19, 2014 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church on Thursday, February 20, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. Mr. Verheeck will lie in state from 10:00 a.m. until mass time. Interment will follow at Crestlawn Memorial Park.
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Past Services

Visitation

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

5:00 - 7:00 pm

Bradford O'Keefe Funeral Home - Ocean Springs

911 Porter Avenue, Ocean Springs, MS 39564

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Visitation

Thursday, February 20, 2014

10:00 - 11:00 am

St. Alphonsus Catholic Church of Ocean Springs

502 Jackson Avenue, Ocean Springs, MS 39564

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Service

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Starts at 11:00 am

St. Alphonsus Catholic Church of Ocean Springs

502 Jackson Avenue, Ocean Springs, MS 39564

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Cemetery

Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home - Gulfport

59 Wayside Rd, Stuart, VA 24171

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