Jennifer Ann Verhoeven, passed away on Thursday, June 20, 2013 unexpectedly while at work at University Hospital in Madison. She was born on July 17, 1974 in Madison and was the daughter of Paul and Marci (Huizenga) Verhoeven. She graduated from Sun Prairie High School in 1992. She received her B.S. in Nursing at Viterbo University and her Masters in Nursing Administration at Edgewood College.
She is survived by her parents, Paul and Marcia; her brother, Jerome (Naomi Richardson) of Madison; a sister Mimi (Mike Gerner) of Omro; nieces and nephews Henri, Luna, Darbiana, Zoe, Mara, soon to be born baby nephew and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

How can words sum up the life of someone so precious? Jenni was precious in every way; from her fierce love of her family to her tender heart from which all of her actions stemmed. Her love of family led her to go to any length to make family events special, buying ridiculous hats for all to wear and photographing the hilarious results. She gave her parents such pride with her indomitable approach to life and the values she kept. As a big sister she was the glue of the family, keeping her siblings close and letting them know how important they were to her and to the family. She was a second mother to her nieces and nephews and without a doubt their favorite auntie. She had a magic ability to make children light up and loved to spoil them with things only an auntie can get away with! In addition to spoiling children, she loved to spoil her yorkie Winnie, who she leaves behind and raised to be the cutest and worst behaved pup on earth! Just as precious to her was her extended family, especially her close aunts, uncles and cousins in Michigan. She rarely missed out on an opportunity to visit, laugh, joke and tell stories with family. Jenni was gifted with the art of storytelling, knowing just how to embellish and explain happenings in a way that instantly had you roaring in laughter. This laughter made her magnetic to friends and acquaintances alike. She loved spending time with friends through dinners, concerts, festivals, scrapbooking, shopping and travel. As a recipient of two kidney transplants she had plenty of obstacles that could have slowed her down, but Jenni lived life to the fullest. She always had a plan for her “next big thing” whether it was another Caribbean cruise or helping to plan a pool party for niece's birthday. She loved her work with lung cancer patients at UW Hospital Carbone Cancer Center. She was gifted with compassion for her patients that awarded her so much appreciation and praise from those around her. Jenni's way of loving and living every moment of her life taught us all how to live. The loss of her contagious smiling face and eyes has left a void and ache on this earth felt by so many. Jen-jen, Tuna, T-fish, Sis…you are missed beyond belief.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Robert and Dorothy Verhoeven, Jerome and Ann Huizenga and infant niece and nephew.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 25, 2013 at Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Catholic Church, 227 Columbus Street in Sun Prairie. Monsignor Duane Moellenberndt will preside. Burial will be at Sacred Hearts Cemetery. A visitation will be held on Monday, June 24, 2013 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Tuschen-Newcomer Funeral Home 302 Columbus St. in Sun Prairie and from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at the church on Tuesday. In Lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Sacred Hearts School Endowment Fund, U.W. Kidney Foundation, or U.W. Carbone Cancer Center.

Tuschen-Newcomer Funeral Home
Sun Prairie, WI 608-837-5400
www.newcomerfh.com