Jewel Edith (Verhulst) Dyer, 92, of Vero Beach passed away in Appleton, Wis. on Oct. 22, 2016.
She is survived by her daughters Denise (Dick) Haight, Daryl (Donnie) Slye, and Debby Dyer; four grandchildren, Mike (Cory) Haight, Erin (Josh) Chudacoff, Rebecca Slye, and Jimmy (Erica) Slye; four great-grandchildren, Lillie and Cameron Chudacoff, and Emily and Allison Haight.
She was predeceased by her husband, John, and her son, Jack.
Dyer was born Aug. 21, 1924, in Sheboygan, Wis. She was the daughter of the late Jacob Cornelius (J.P.) Verhulst and Lillian Harsch Verhulst and was the third of their four children. She married John Donald Dyer in Shorewood, Wis., on May 3, 1947. She was a 1942 graduate of Sheboygan North High School.
After attending Stephens College in Missouri for one year, she transferred to Lawrence College (University) where she went on to receive her Bachelor of Science Degree in 1946. While at Lawrence, she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and was president of her senior class. She ran against her future husband for this post!
Dyer worked at the Kohler Company and the Boston Store (Milwaukee). She also was employed at the Wisconsin Telephone Company where she was in the engineering department.
She and John loved to travel and, through the years, visited the Caribbean, Alaska, Hawaii, Mallorca, France, Germany, Austria, Greece, Italy, and England. She also played bridge throughout her adult life.
After growing up in Sheboygan, her adult years were spent living in Wilmette, Ill. Oshkosh, Wautoma, Baileys Harbor, and Appleton. The Dyer’s enjoyed winters in Vero Beach for 25 years. In Florida they were members of Westminster Presbyterian Church. While in Florida they spent many happy hours square dancing (and round dancing) with their dear friends.
Dyer was engaged in civic affairs. She was active in the Oshkosh YMCA fund drives and was a member of P.E.O. and Curative Workshop where she served the organization as president. She served on the board of the Easter Seal Society and volunteered at the EAA Museum during fly-in weeks. Furthermore, she worked with the Red Cross and the Winnebago County Mental Health Hospital.
Children’s Hospital was an organization near and dear to her heart. Dyer created the Rebecca Fund at Children’s Hospital, a fund which benefits children with cancer.
The memorial service for Jewel will be held at 2 p.m. on Oct. 27, 2016, at Wichmann Funeral Home, 537 N. Superior St. Appleton, with Pastor David Rosene officiating. Inurnment will take place at Riverside Cemetery, Appleton. The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. until the time of service.
In lieu of flowers memorial gifts may be made to: Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, National Processing Center, Attn: Honor and Memorial Gifts, PO Box 1245, Albert Lea MN 56007 or Lawrence University/Bjorklunden, Office of Development, 711 E. Boldt Way, Appleton WI 54911
Her family would like to thank the staff at Brewster Village and Touchmark Senior Living for their kind, compassionate care.
