VERLE BURDETTE

born: May 26, 1917

died: August 31, 1980

Verle was about four years younger than me, so I don't remember playing with him so much. I do remember some of the cute things that happened to him.

We had several pictures of the three little boys and they were always looking at these pictures. One night they saw their reflections in the window, and Verle said "There's them darn kids again."

I remember a school teacher took Verle out of school one day and sent him home. We wondered why. But, when we got home we found out. She had given him a big sack of candy (all put into little sacks). The Canton Fire Department had asked her to give this candy to a needy family. We fit that description.

Another time, Mom had bought pepper in the bulk in a paper sack. Verle asked her what it was. She told him pepper, but he did not believe her, so he took a big bite! Then he believed her. We older brothers thought that was funny.

When Verle was about 17, he and our cousin Mary Kaler, who was visiting us, became very ill. The doctor came out and pronounced it diphtheria. By law the doctor had to report it to the police and they would put a big red quarantine sign on the door. This would mean that no one could leave the house once they were inside. Quarantines would last about ten days to two weeks as a rule. Gene and I quick got our bags packed as soon as the doctor left the house. We knew we would be quarantined in if we didn't leave before the police came with the quarantine sign. I saw the town police officer coming up the walk with the sign and said to Gene "Let's get out of here...Now" We were walking out the side door while they were walking to the front door. "A narrow escape! !"

Gene and I stayed in the garage beside the house part of the time and at Delberts part of the time. We also ate meals at restaurants and at Hazel's folks. We kept on running the sawmill and logging for Dad during this time. Gene and I gargled with Listerine about 15 times a day. We did everything but drink

it. We didn't want to get diphtheria.

Verle had a great sense of humor. We had two neighbor boys, one named Athey and the other Pete. They lived close by and were together a lot. Verle got to calling them Ate and Pethey. They didn't think it was funny but we did. There never was a dull moment when Verle was around. Verle was always fun to be around and fun to work with. Back then everyone worked all of the time. Absenteeism was unheard of.

Verle was a good hard working kid as we all were. He began running Dad's sawmill as the Head Sawyer at the age of 22. Verle was an exceptionally good sawyer and always got high production.

Later, after Hazel and I were dating, Verle and Hazel's brother, Elmer, became life-long friends. Those two kept life interesting.

I don't think anyone enjoyed life any more than Verle. Verle and Elmer and Hazel's other brother Bob played for dances. It was a little country-style orchestra. Verle and Bob played violins. Elmer played the banjo. They played old fashioned country style square dance music. The dances were held at farm houses.

Verle fixed up a harness out of wire to hold his mouth harp. It was hooked to his shoulders, so he could play the mouth harp and the violin at the same time. He put on quite a one-man-show. It was so funny to watch him, besides the fact that he played such good music. Everyone laughed about it the first time they saw it. These were such great days. Life was really enjoyable.

In 1940, as war clouds were gathering, Verle and Elmer both went into the Army.

About a year and a half later, Gene and Gail also went into the service.

Verle served four-years, seven-months. Most of the time was spent on the west coast training new recruits. The last several months were spent in the Philippines Islands, then about eight months in Japan. He went in with the first group landing in Japan. Verle said that his battalion was told they couldn't trust the Japanese and he was scared of them. He didn't know what to expect. Fortunately, he didn't see any combat but he did see the terrible results of the war. Japan was a devastated nation.

While Verle was in Japan, to kill time, he somehow ended up going to a dance. It was a small country-style dance like they used to have back home. He was fascinated by one of the Japanese playing the violin like he had played before the war. Of course he couldn't speak Japanese and the Japanese couldn't speak English. However, the Japanese violinist seemed to see something in Verle's eyes, and seemed to be able, to read his mind, and handed Verle the violin.

Verle had always played by ear, so he could play their music. He fit in just fine, and played with the Japanese band for several hours. He said it was one of the most memorable events he had experienced while in the service. Verle used to talk about this a lot.

On November 24, 1943, Verle married Willena Baker. They had one son, Duane, born March 6, 1951. Duane is married and has one daughter Shannon, two years old. They live in East Central Florida where Duane teaches school. He was chosen "Teacher of the Year" for that area in 1977.

In 1946, after the war, Verle and our brother Gene, started the sawmill at Oregon, IL. The business was a success. They lived well, made money and invested in farmland.

Verle and I became close after we got older. We lived fifty miles apart and sometimes worked together. Hazel and Willie were best of friends and spent time at their cottage in Wisconsin. These were great days! Willie, as we always called Verle's first wife, died of cancer in 1965, at the age of forty-four. These were sad days as we had lost three members of our family in about one years time.

In 1966, Verle married Dorothy Wisman. Dorothy was a widow with a son, Jim, and a daughter, Linda, who were nearly grown when Verle and Dorothy were married.

In 1968, Gene and his family moved to Hawaii. In 1970 Verle sold his interest in the mill to Walter and me. Verle's health failed. He had a severe stroke, which left his vocal chords and chest area paralyzed. It has been heart-breaking to see him sick for so long.

Verle's foresight was good, as he had invested in five new duplex apartments at Whitewater, Wisconsin. This proved to be a very successful investment.

Verle and Dorothy moved to Florida for the warmer climate. They live at Jensen Beach about 100 miles north of Miami but visit Illinois each summer.

At this time, (Sept. 1979) Verle is still active in a limited way and can not talk but can write and fully understands.

They were at Royle's funeral September 29, 1979. We all took Royle's death hard, each in our own way, but Verle could not verbalize his grief so it was especially hard on him.

NOTE:August  31, 1980, Verle died after a ten year illness. The funeral was Sept. 3, 1980. He is buried beside Willie, five miles south of Oregon.

September,  1989:

In putting the book into final print, I want to say a few words about my brother Verle, in his memory. Verle was so full of life and fun, even after he had the stroke which left him unable to speak. He managed to tell stories that he had told before by gestures which everyone would seem to understand. Verle contributed a lot to this family, and we will always cherish his memory.

Hazel and I traveled to where he and Willie are buried, near Oregon, IL., each year up until her health failed and we were no longer able to go.

Verle was a special brother, one of a kind. He is dearly missed.

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