Emert J. Verbeck, 97, of Tonasket, died February 20, 2014 at North Valley Hospital in Tonasket. He was born at a home near Anglin, Washington on Hwy. 20 on July 31, 1916 to CE and Molly (Wine) Verbeck, the fourth of six children.
On March 12, 1940 he married Sara Pearl Longanecker. To this union four children were born: E. Wayne, Carol, Ron and John. Emert worked with his father and brother in Verbeck & Sons. They started by digging basements in the area with a horse and wagon and expanded to concrete work and road building. Later he worked with his brother Don, then with his three sons as Verbeck Brothers. Emert was also an area orchardist for years and was well known at the Farmers Market for his melons and tomatoes. He skied until he was 89-years-old.
Emert was a member of the Ellisforde Church of the Brethren all his life. He spent 60 years plus in Scouting, holding positions in several areas, was a former member of the Tonasket Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Tonasket Kiwanis Club with 64 years of perfect attendance.
He is survived by his children: E. Wayne Verbeck of Tonasket, Carol (Al) O’Dell of Omak, Ron (Pat) Verbeck of Tonasket, John (Connie) Verbeck of Tonasket and 11 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Pearl, 5 siblings Don Verbeck, Beth Weddle, Helen Longanecker, Raymond Verbeck and Irene Kirkpatrick.
Graveside services will be held Saturday, April 19, 2014, 9 a.m. at the Ellisforde Mountain View Cemetery. A celebration of his life will follow at 11 a.m. at the Ellisforde Church of the Brethren, Pastor James Yaussy Albright officiating. Memorials may be made to the: Ellisforde Church of the Brethren, the Kiwanis Youth Fund c/o the Tonasket Kiwanis Club, P.O. Box 2117, Tonasket, WA 98855 or Grand Columbia Council #614, Boy Scouts of America, Wenatchee Service Center, 213 N Chelan, Wenatchee, WA 98801.
Please share your thoughts and memories of Emert by signing his online guestbook at www.berghfuneralservice.com.
Bergh Funeral Service of Oroville/Tonasket in care of arrangements.
Marvin Fredrick Utecht
