Verna F. Segelke, 92, left this earth for her heavenly home on Saturday, September 26, 2020.  She was born November 24, 1927, at her Wiggins home to Irma (Mason) and  Virgil Vance.  She attended Wiggins schools, graduating from Wiggins High School in 1945.  Upon graduation she attended Denver University for two years on a music scholarship.  Verna eventually earned her bachelor's degree in education from Colorado State College, now UNC.

It is estimated that Verna touched the lives of over 1000 students during her 40 year career as a school teacher.  She was one of the last teachers to teach in a two-room school in Orchard.  She then taught school in Hillrose and Wiggins.  She retired from teaching in 1985 from Desert Center Unified School District in Eagle Mountain, California.

Verna married Russell E. Segelke on July 20, 1947, in Wiggins.  To that union was born two children, Darlene and Danny.  The family spent their early years in Wiggins, but moved to California in 1965 where Verna continued her teaching career.  While living there, the family enjoyed traveling, jeeping, boating, and camping.

In 1985 Verna and Russell moved back to Wiggins, where Verna lived in the house she was born in.  Not quite ready to completely retire, she started the Wiggins Courier with her daughter, Darlene.  They operated the weekly paper for 10 years.

Serving her community was important to Verna.  As president of the Wiggins Historical Group, she was instrumental in getting The Old Trail School renovated and on the National Register of Historic Places.  She taught Sunday School and Bible School for many years at Summit Baptist Church in Wiggins.  She served on the Wiggins School District Board of Directors.  She was a member of the Arbor Day committee and helped encourage local businesses in Wiggins to set up planters along Main Street and Central Avenue, as well as organize the local Arbor Day celebration.  She helped organize many local celebrations, including the Summer Festival, Wiggins Ag Day, and a Bicentennial celebration of the U.S. Constitution.

Verna is survived by her children Darlene (Charles) Ruyle of Wiggins and Danny (Brenda) Segelke of Round Mountain, Nevada; grandchildren and great grandchildren;  Jennifer (Mike) Marquez, Anna Kay and Olivia of Kennewick Washington, Alishia (Tim) Willemse and family of Palmdale, California, Erin (Luke) Epple, Taelynn, Haedynn, and Maesynn of Wiggins, and Emily Ruyle of Denver, Colorado; and a host of nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Russell, her parents, Irma and Virgil Vance, her siblings, Phyllis Forsha, Shirley Gilliland, and Billy M. Vance.

Visitation will be a the Heer Mortuary Chapel in Fort Morgan on Monday from 2 – 4:30 PM.  The funeral service will be at 1:00 PM at the Summit Baptist Church in Wiggins on Tuesday, September 29, 2020.  Interment will follow in Riverside Cemetery in Fort Morgan.  Family suggests memorial gifts be given to the Wiggins Historical Group, the Summit Baptist Church in Wiggins, The Arthritis Foundation or to the American Cancer Society.  All memorial gifts may be sent to the Heer Mortuary.