Sherman John Verhoeff, age 80, of Collinsville, Oklahoma and formerly of Grinnell, Kansas, died on Tuesday, April 9, 2019, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, from congestive heart failure. Sherman was born July 6, 1938, in Hays to John and Marie (Ashley) Verhoeff. He was raised in Grinnell and graduated from Grinnell High School in 1956. He was in the Kansas Army National Guard and attended college in Hays, majoring in electrical engineering, and where he met his future wife and lifelong partner, Donnie Regagnon. Sherman farmed with his two uncles and father in Grinnell.
Sherman married Donnie May (Regagnon) on November 7, 1957. Sherman and Donnie moved to Kansas City in 1958 where he received his degree in Electrical Engineering. After his graduation he moved back to Grinnell and eventually had his own farm and ranch where he and his wife, Donnie, raised purebred Charolais cattle under the name Broken Bar Charolais. Sherman was an active member of the Bluestem Charolais Association and attended cattle shows, conferences, and meetings throughout the United States.
Sherman and Donnie were blessed with two daughters, Debbora and Sharon, who also attended school and graduated from Grinnell. Both girls were active in local 4-H and Sherman participated as a 4-H leader.
Sherman was always intrigued with flying and eventually he and Deb received their private pilots’ licenses together in 1976. They and the family often traveled in their Cessna 172 to visit family and friends throughout the Midwest.
Sherman was a member of the Methodist Church in Grinnell, and was baptized and married in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Larned, Kansas. He attended the Ranch Creek Ward of the LDS church in Owasso, Oklahoma.
Sherman is survived by his wife, Donnie M. (Regagnon) Verhoeff; daughters, Debbora Verhoeff, of Owasso, and Sharon Verhoeff, of Quinlan, Texas, seven grandchildren: Justin Dawson, Dallas Allen, Savanna Payne, Shawn Dawson, Jacob Allen, Amanda Paul and Garrett Paul; and eight great-grandchildren: Keira and Connor Dawson; Gwendolyn and Roselyn Allen; Colleen, Leah and Danny Marie Payne and Christopher L Bunton.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Marie Verhoeff, and uncles: Joseph Verhoeff and Marion Verhoeff, also from Grinnell, Kansas.
Sherman will always be remembered for his warm smile, caring attitude and joyful personality.
Funeral service: 1:00 p.m. Monday, April 15, 2019 at Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home, Oakley. Visitation: 11:00 a.m. to service time, Monday, at the funeral home. Interment in Grinnell Township Cemetery with military honors. Memorials: Grinnell Township Cemetery Fund in care of Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home, P.O. Box 221, Oakley, KS 67748.
Online Guestbook: www.kennedykosterfh.com