Maurice VERSTRAETE

29 NOV 1918 - 23 JUN 2016

• BIRTH: 29 NOV 1918, Mishawaka, Indiana
• DEATH: 23 JUN 2016, Mishawaka, Indiana

• MARRIAGE: 8 JUL 1967, St Joseph County IN

• DIVORCE: 8 NOV 1963, St Joseph County, IN

1.  David VERSTRAETE
2.  Maurice VERSTRAETE

INDEX

[N14915] Maurice Verstraete
Nov. 29, 1918 - June 23, 2016
MISHAWAKA - Maurice “Maury” T. Verstraete, 97, of Mishawaka, passed away early Thursday morning, June 23, 2016, in Sunset House, Mishawaka. Maury was born November 29, 1918, in Mishawaka, a son of the late Alfred and Leontine (Paelman) Verstraete. He was a life-long resident of Mishawaka and a graduate of Mishawaka High School. Maury served his country as a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Army during World War II and earned a Bronze Star Medal. Maury's employment included Ball Band, Bendix, and he retired from Dodge Manufacturing. He was a member of Queen of Peace Catholic Church, the BK Club where he enjoyed Belgian bowling, American Legion Post 161, VFW Post 360 and served on the funeral honors burial squad, DAV Chapter 15, and the Eagles. Maury was an avid fisherman and enjoyed golfing and making decorations from walnuts. Maury married Evelyn “Evie” Sessler and she preceded him in death. He was also preceded by a brother, Marcel Verstraete, a sister, Dorothy Duvall, and a step-son, Dennis Snyder. Maury's surviving family includes two sons, Maurice (Mary) Verstraete of Tacoma, Washington, and David (Carol) Verstraete of South Bend; a stepson, Robert (Louise) Snyder of Osceola; his sister, Loretta Johnson of Mishawaka; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday at 10:30 am in Queen of Peace Catholic Church, 4508 Vistula Road, Mishawaka, with Rev. Vincent Joseph officiating. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery. Military honors will be provided by American Legion 161 / VFW 360 Burial Squad. Visitation will be Sunday from 3 - 5 pm in Goethals & Wells Funeral Home, 503 W. 3rd Street, Mishawaka, and Monday from 9:30 - 10:30 am in the church. Memorials are suggested to Center for Hospice Care or Queen of Peace Catholic Church. Assistance with memorials is available through the funeral home. An online guestbook is available at www.goethalswells.com. Published in South Bend Tribune on June 24, 2016

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Across the decades

Many immigrants and their offspring returned to Europe to fight in World War II, like Maurice Verstraete, of Mishawaka. The U.S. Army stationed him in Belgium. One day, when his lieutenant went to visit his brother in Antwerp, Verstraete took the command car to meet relatives for the first time in Waarschoot, the town from which both of his parents had immigrated. It still sparks a little smile, a bright spot in a dark war. Has he stayed in touch? "I started to, then I didn't," says the 94-year-old, speaking between his turns to roll a bolle (the Belgian form of bowling) at the BK Club, the old Mishawaka hub for Belgian culture and sport. "I should have. I have a lot of pictures at home. They didn't write in English very well, and I didn't write Belgian very well." "I spoke a little Flemish," he says.

SEE PHOTO - https://www.southbendtribune.com/maurice-verstraete/image_3996cbd6-f2c0-11e2-a907-0019bb30f31a.html