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Obituaries » Katherine "Katie" Verkow
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A special THANK YOU to Centrica Healthcare Navigators, StoryPoint Portage Memory Care Unit staff and countless family and friends for prayer, care, visits and other support. Cremation has taken place. Katie's life will be remembered at a memorial service on Friday, April 17, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at Calvary Bible Church, 855 S. Drake Rd., Kalamazoo Friends may call on the family one hour prior to the service at the church beginning at 10:00 a.m. Please use entrance D. Contributions to honor Katie may be made to Centrica Care Navigators, Paws With a Cause or Alternatives of Kalamazoo.
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Katherine Elizabeth “Katie” (Ryan) Verkow left for Home peacefully March 23 at StoryPoint Portage due to complications from dementia. She was 71.
Katie was born June 26, 1954, and adopted by Daniel M. and Annie M. Ryan of Kalamazoo on July 13. On June 28, 1975, she entered into marriage with Donald S. Verkow. Katie and Don raised two children, Ben (Sarah), of Kalamazoo, and Emily Verkow (Adam Doney) of Eaton Rapids. She was grandma to her adored grandchildren Reese and Quinn Verkow of Kalamazoo, Cameron Collins of Portage, and Marcy and Gabby Doney of Eaton Rapids.
Katie was a graduate of Hackett High School, Kalamazoo and Western Michigan University. She taught various grades at Northside Preparatory School, Paramount Charter Academy and for the Diocese of Kalamazoo Catholic schools.
Katie never met a dog she didn’t love, and counted among her very best friends George Russell, Babe, Dolly, Scruffy, Tootsie, Mollie, Abby, Zoey, and Winston.
Katie was a rabid fan of University of Michigan football and basketball, enjoyed vintage TV Westerns and “Little House on the Prairie,” which she read cover to cover more than once while singing along to The Monkees and working towards every available Girl Scout badge, achieving the rank of cadet. She was an excellent cook but uneven housekeeper, enjoyed a glass of wine, yellow cars, and her comfy wardrobe of dog sweatshirts. Those close to her knew you NEVER touched her feet!
Katie was a fiercely loyal combination of determination and love. She lived a life bigger than her height, longer than her health prescribed, and more full of love than an average heart could hold.
Survivors include her husband, a brother Michael (Linda) of Two Rivers, WI., sister Maggie Ryan of Shiremanstown, PA., sisters-in law Marcia (Joe) Holdeman of Otsego, Tina Richardson of Allegan, Debbie (Jay) Wolf of Vicksburg, brother-in -law Rick (Amy) Verkow of Mattawan and many nieces and nephews. Katie was preceded in death by her grandson Noah Verkow, parents Dan and Annie Ryan, mother-and father-in-law, Phyllis and Briene Verkow, sister-in-law Mary Beth Verkow and beloved aunt Josephine Ryan
