Veronica Jayne Ropele

Veronica J. Ropele, age 91, a resident of New Berlin, WI, and formerly of Norway, MI passed away on July 20, 2020, at Season Hospice in Wauwatosa, WI.

She was born in Hermansville, MI on June 21, 1929.  Veronica was the 10^th child of 12 children born to Joseph and Anna (Nazay) Rodman, immigrants from Croatia, which was known at the time as Yugoslavia.

Veronica grew up in Hermansville and graduated from Hermansville High School in June of 1947 as Valedictorian of her class.  After graduation, she attended Badger Business College in Green Bay.  Her first places of employment were in the Thiensville, WI area for the Herbert A. Nieman Fur Company, and the First National Bank of Thiensville.  She later returned to Norway where she married Marvin Ropele on August 8, 1953, at St. Mary’s Church in Hermansville, MI and resided in Norway where they raised their family.  He preceded her in death on September 8, 1969.

She became employed as a part-time secretary at Holy Spirit School in Norway.  In April, 1977 when the First National Bank of Hermansville opened a branch bank in Quinnesec, MI she was hired as a teller and was employed there until she retired on December 31, 1994, also having served as their Branch Manager.  After retirement, she served as their 55 Plus Club Coordinator.  She graduated from Northern Michigan University’s School of Banking.

In 1993, she received the Athena Award which was given to the top businesswomen in Dickinson County who played an important role in business and local communities.

After she retired, she spent her leisure time doing volunteer work.  She counted money for 13 years at St. Mary’s Church in Norway and was a member of their St. Vincent de Paul Society. She spent time at the local nursing home helping with their socials.  She was active at Holy Spirit School helping as a bookkeeper for their fundraisers.  She was a former member of the Norway-Vulcan Women’s Club and a long-time member of the Croatian Fraternal Union Holy Cross Lodge #259 in Hermansville.

She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, reading, crossword puzzles, talking on the phone connecting with her friends and family, and watching sports on TV, especially the Packers and Michigan State Spartans.

She was a devoted and loving mother to her children, Michael (Diana) of Howard City, MI and Winter Haven, FL, and Lori (Roger) Birenbaum of New Berlin, WI.  Proud grandmother of Nicholas and Noah Birenbaum of New Berlin, WI.   She is also survived by her sisters, Frances of Milwaukee, WI, and Barbara (Richard) of Edina, MN, and one brother, Frank of Hermansville and sister-in-law, Lois Erspamer of Marquette, MI.  She was the fond aunt to many nieces and nephews.

She is further survived by step-grandchildren, Teri (Jeff) Ouderkirk and their children, Libby (Eli) Adams and Evan Ouderkirk, their children, Reagan, Elias, and Thea Adams as well as Chris (Teri) Underhill and their children Teagan, Trevor, Taylor, and River.

Besides her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by her brothers Joseph, John, Nick and Rudy Rodman; her sisters, Anna and Mary Rodman, Dorothy Occhino, Kathryn Bugni and brothers-in-law, John Lodde, Sr., Joseph Occhino, John Bugni, James Erspamer, Stanley Moln; sisters-in-law Lucille Rodman, Colleen Rodman, Ernestine Moln and nephew, John Lodde, Jr.

Memorials appreciated to Holy Spirit Catholic School, 201 Saginaw Street, in Norway, MI.

The Gathering will be on Saturday, August 22, 2020, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 401 Main Street, Norway, MI, 49870 from 9:00 AM. – 10:00 AM with a Memorial Mass celebrated at 10:00 AM, with Fr. Timothy Ekaitis presiding.

Interment will be in Norway Township Cemetery, WPA Road, Vulcan, MI, 49892.