Virgil Duane Bouck

Surrounded by the love and prayers of family and friends, Virgil Duane Bouck of rural Pigeon, left us on Monday, April 11 at the age of 96 as a result of heart failure. Virgil’s heart had been declining since October 9, 2013 when his beloved wife of 64 years, Verneta, passed away.

Following graduation from Elkton High School in 1937, Virgil worked on the Dunn Road family farm with his father. During World War II Virgil served in the Merchant Marines as a purser on the Great Lakes cargo vessel “The City of Saginaw”. At the end of the war Virgil returned to Pigeon and began his life-long efforts of farming improvement and expansion. Because of Virgil’s love of farming, he started a second career with the Federal Government in the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service by serving as Office Manager in the Kalkaska, Midland and Tuscola County offices. He retired from the Federal Government in 1984 and began spending winters with Verneta in the Florida Keys where they immensely enjoyed many wonderful years of fishing together.

Virgil was a member of the Hayes United Methodist Church, serving in many capacities over his lifetime. He was also a member of the Hubbard-Winsor Lodge No. 420 F & AM, and an active member of the Caseville Historical Society. He enjoyed genealogy research and reading.

Family was very important to Virgil. He is survived by children; Marge Hall of Lansing, Joyce Miller of Caseville, David (Sue) Bouck of Pigeon and Dan (Carla) Bouck of Zionsville, Indiana, grandchildren; Fawn Eagen (John McPhail), Shannon (Heather) Eagen, Margaret (Jon) Manalo, Levi (Kristen) Zagorski, Travis (Kate) Zagorski, Kayci (Tony) Stanley, Jacob Bouck, Andrew, Jillian and Emily Bouck and great grandchildren; Abby, Emma and Colin Eagen, Eian and Calag Manalo, Stephen, Eva and Violet Zagorski and Morgan, Wyatt and Madelyn Zagorski, sisters-in-law Doris Theismeyer and Helen Bouck.

Virgil was welcomed into Heaven by his wife, Verneta, and by his daughter and son-in-law, Judy and Steve Zagorski, son-in-law, Gordon Miller, and his sister-in-law, Marion Ernst.

Funeral services will be on Friday, April 15th at 11:00 AM at the Hayes United Methodist Church with Pastor Brian Johnson officiating. Lunch will be served following the service. Burial will be in a private family service in the Caseville Twp. Cemetery.

Visitation will be on Thursday, April 14 from 2:00 - 8:00 PM at the Champagne Funeral Chapel of Caseville and on Friday from 10:00 AM until the time of the service at the church.

A Masonic Memorial service will be conducted 7:30 PM Thursday at the funeral home by Hubbard/Winsor Lodge 420 F&AM.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: Hayes United Methodist Church (7001 Filion Rd., Pigeon, MI 48755) or the Pigeon Conservation Club-Pheasant Release Program.

Virgil’s family wishes to offer special thanks to Country Bay, A&D Home Healthcare, Compassus Hospice, Scheurer Hospital, and to Pastor Brian Johnson of Hayes UMC.

Two months prior to his death the Huron Daily Tribune published a story about his life. This is a link to that story: http://www.michigansthumb.com