William Henry Verhelle

William Henry Verhelle, Sr., 92 of Naples, FL passed away at 6:20 PM on Tuesday, March 14, 2017.  He died peacefully at home with his wife of over 56 years, Angela Verhelle, and other members of his family present. 

William Verhelle Sr. was born in Chicago, IL in 1924 to Joseph Verhelle and Frances Jank.  His family moved to the Detroit area when he was a child.  He attended St. Clare Catholic grade school in Grosse Pointe, MI and the University of Detroit Jesuit High School in Detroit, MI.  Bill Sr. served in the US Army during WWII.  Before entering the war he attended Georgetown University, finishing his studies at Georgetown after the conclusion of the war.  

After college, he raised a family in the Detroit area.  In 1960, Bill Sr. married his wife of nearly 57 years, Angela Verhelle, at St. Clare Church in Grosse Pointe.  He worked for CIT equipment finance company in the 1950’s and later in banking in Detroit and Warren, MI.  In the early 1980’s, he became part owner and the administrator of the Reus Residence retirement home in Petoskey, MI, which he and his wife Angela operated together for nearly 20 years.  Thereafter, he and Angela lived near their sons and their families in both Victor, NY and Naples, FL. 

William Sr. is survived by his wife Angela Verhelle of Naples, FL, and their two sons, William (Cyndee) Verhelle Jr. of Naples, FL and Joseph (Kari) Verhelle of The Woodlands, TX.  He is also survived by his sister-in-law Patricia Verhelle of Petoskey, MI.   He has 6 grandchildren: Madeline Verhelle (15), Mitchell Verhelle (15), Bradley Verhelle (15), Nicholas Verhelle (14), William III (Trey) Verhelle (12) and Luke Verhelle (10).   Bill Sr. was predeceased by his parents and his older brother, Rev. Joseph C. Verhelle S.J. of Bloomfield Hills, MI, his older sister, Fran (jJoe) Kristufek of Grosse Pointe, and his younger brother, Robert Verhelle of Petoskey, MI.

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