Verlis D. Henert

Verlis D. Henert, 88, of St. Louis, MO formerly of Rockford, IL was born to Roland H. and Lucille R. Danekas Henert November 14, 1934 in Ashton, Illinois. He was born and raised on a farm. He graduated from Ashton High School Class of 1952, attended Arizona State University and graduated from Worsham School of Mortuary Science in 1955.  Verlis was a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer in the Rockford area for 56 years.

He had a generous heart and gave back so much to his community through many hours of his time as a member of the Rockford Jaycees, board member of Big Brothers/Big Sisters, member of the service board of the Genesis House Community Center, a volunteer Eye Enucleation Technician for the Illinois Eye Bank, member of Golden K Kiwanis and the Board of Directors of Golden K Kiwanis, the Golden Agers, and the Arlington Cemetery in Rockford, Illinois.  He also was a frequent guest speaker on Doug McDuff’s radio program on WNTA.

Verlis and his wife Janet moved to the St. Louis area in 2016.  Verlis was a wonderful man with a warm smile. He had a kind and humble heart and a sense of humor that was filled with many “one-liner Verlis-isms” that would always light up a room.  He always expressed his gratitude and appreciation to others; his gentlemanly manners made him endearing to so many.

Verlis was a great and devoted family man-he loved his entire family; not just his immediate family, but all of his nieces, nephews, and cousins as well. His happy and fun-loving spirit will be missed by his many friends and family members.

Few people can excel as Verlis did in the funeral business.  It was a calling that he answered to the benefit of so many others. Verlis will be remembered by the thousands of families he's assisted over the years as a caring, compassionate and dedicated individual.

Verlis once said that he wished to be remembered as a kind and compassionate man. All who knew him would say that he will always be loved and remembered in exactly that way.

Verlis was the loving husband of Janet; the devoted Dad to Julie (Dr. Michael) Frith and Cindy Henert; very special Grandpa to Dr. Jeremy (Mary) Frith, Katie (Craig) Markway and Jacob Henert (Anna) Shultz; adoring Great Grandpa to Isabelle and Andy Frith, Ava, Mia and Ellie Markway, and Baby Shultz arriving in May. Brother-in-Law to Rod (Rosemarie) Weller. A special Uncle to many Nieces and Nephews. He was pre-deceased by his Parents and Grandson, Nicholas Henert Shultz, Brother and sister-in-law Dennis and Pauline Henert.

As an old Hebrew proverb states, “Say not in grief that he is no more, but live in thankfulness that he was.”

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can made in memory of Verlis D. Henert to:

Carpenter’s Place Outreach Center, Rockford, IL, https://www.carpentersplace.org/

Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary, Rockford, IL, http://www.noahsarkanimals.org/

St. Luke’s Hospice Services, Chesterfield, MO:

 https://www.stlukes-stl.com/services/hospice-services/index.html

Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, April 14, 2023 in Honquest Family Funeral Home with Crematory – Mulford Chapel, 4311 N. Mulford Road, Loves Park with a visitation from 10:00 AM until time of service. A Celebration of Life Luncheon will follow the memorial service at Sam’s Ristorante Banquet Hall & Convention Center, 6075 E. Riverside Blvd., Rockford.

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