Judith Loreman Verdine of Washington, Missouri, was named the 2005 Honorary
Swede at the 53rd annual Swedish Festival in Stromsburg Friday
evening.
The
Honorary Swede is chosen on the basis of being born, educated and having grown
up in the Swede Capital and they have distinguished themselves in the community
in which they lived by their participation in activities involving their
community, school and church, plus any state or federal activities in which they
choose to serve.
Judy
has fulfilled the requirements to the 9th degree.
Judy
was born March 19, 1946, to Everett and Imogene Loreman of Stromsburg, who have
also distinguished themselves in the Swede Capital community by being chosen
king and queen in 1999. In this case, the apple did not fall far from the tree.
Judy
graduated from Stromsburg in 1964 and continued her education by completing a
course in home economics, completing her degree in 1968 from the University of
Nebraska. She then began her career as a teacher in the Washington, Missouri,
school system. She taught there for 5 ˝ years. Then came a span of teaching in
the local community college, teaching nutrition and crafts.
She
became involved in the stained glass business, which consumed twenty years of
her life, teaching the art and doing some commission work.
She
currently works as office manager at a drug store in Washington, Missouri, which
by the way, is owned by her husband.
Judy
has been married to William Verdine for 35 years. He is a pharmacist. The
Verdines have two children, Benjamin, a plastic surgeon who lives in St. Louis
with his wife Diane, and daughter Elizabeth, an educator living in Chicago with
husband Adam.
Judy
represented her school in Washington, Missouri, in several capacities. She was
a room mother and classroom volunteer. She served on the long range planning
committee for the school district and was band booster treasurer for seven
years. She was one of the founders of the WHS Academic Boosters and served this
group as president for two years. Judy was a charter member of the Board of
Directors for WINGS, Washington School District Foundation, of which she was
president three years.
A
member of the United Church of Christ, Judy served as delegate to the General
Synod. She taught Sunday school and directed the Christmas program. She played
in the hand bell choir for some twenty years, being a charter member. She
served on church committees and boards including Christian Education,
Evangelism, music director, selection committee and building. She was the
building committee chair for church renovations and addition. She also served
three years on the church council and two years as president, a congregation of
1,000 members.
Judy
distinguished herself by getting involved in community activities such as a
volunteer at the Washington Town and Country Fair, served on the Fair queen
committee, served on benefit dinner committee for Emmaus Homes (a facility for
developmentally disabled adults), she served three years as this committee’s
chair, during which time $100,000 was raised for Emmaus Homes.
Lastly, Judy is presently serving as Missouri State Chapter P.E.O. Sisterhood
president, which consists of 14,000 members and 336 chapters. She has served
seven years on the state board. She is a member of Chapter CD, Washington, and
has belonged as a member for 28 years, having served as an officer of the
chapter for over sixteen years.
The
Honorary Swede Committee was very impressed and pleased to name Judy Loreman
Verdine as the Honorary Swede for 2005.
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