Vera W. Degenhardt, 92, of Kirksville, Missouri, passed away on December 13, 2025, at Northeast Regional Medical Center, surrounded by the love of her family.

Vera was born on September 19, 1933, in a two-room farmhouse north of Victoria, Kansas, to Ferdinand and Lidwina (Sander) Weigel. Growing up on a 180-acre homestead during the Depression and World War II, Vera learned the values of faith and hard work early. As the youngest of four children, she often recalled the heavy labor of farm life—plowing fields, harvesting wheat, milking cows, and tending livestock—for several years after her older siblings, Hubertine, Thelma, and Ferdinand "Fred Jr.," were married or in military service.

She was educated in a small country grade school and at the public high school in Victoria Kansas where Benedictine sisters taught. After high school, she enrolled in Fort Hays Kansas State College but left after 1 semester to begin making money, working at the Central Kansas Power Company. During this time, she was an active parishioner at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, going to daily mass. She also enjoyed going to dances, participating in competitive team duckpin bowling and consuming lime aids at the local drive-in diner. She also continued to work on the family farm out of necessity to help her dad.

Her best friend since high school, Betty, who was going steady with a soldier Al Brungardt, convinced Vera to go on a blind date with Al’s closest buddy Jimmy who was also on leave over the Christmas holiday. Vera felt coerced to go and wasn’t very happy about it so intentionally treated her blind date with disdain, expecting that she would never hear from him again. She misjudged that! She began getting cards in the mail from this airman every couple of weeks, and she began writing back.

At the same time, a local farmer was also vying for the heart of the lass from the now "ghost town" of Emmeram. It has been said that the young men’s mothers once had a heated exchange in the local grocery store over whose son was the better match. In the end, her choice came down to continuing a life on the farm in Kansas or a life of adventure in Washington, D.C. The lure of leaving Kansas for an exciting adventure couldn’t be resisted—and perhaps neither could James A’s (her endearing term for Jim) subtle wit, his smile, and the way he looked in a uniform.

She married James A. on a windy Wednesday morning on April 20, 1954, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Hays. To avoid a local tradition of peers playing practical jokes to newlyweds on their honeymoon night, the couple hid away in her abandoned family farmhouse—a "stealthy" move that foreshadowed Jim’s future career. Within 2 days, they packed their car and drove to Arlington, Virginia, to begin their new life.

In Arlington, James A had an apartment waiting for them. On Monday morning, 5 days after getting married, Jim went off to work at Bolling Airforce Base and Vera went to a job interview that James A had already set up for her. Vera’s sharp mind, "German standard" precision in typing and shorthand, and her youthful, “off the farm” innocence and shapeliness, landed her a prestigious role as the personal secretary to the Admiral leading the National Security Agency (NSA). Over the next couple of years, Jim was honorably discharged from the Airforce and was hired by the Defense Department to work in the newly developing computer program at NSA, and she gave birth to a set of twins (Gary and Gail). She continued to work for the Admiral until she became pregnant a second time in 1961. In 1962, she gave birth to a completely unexpected second set of twins (Bernard and Brian). Shortly thereafter she decided to leave her job to raise her family.

Vera and Jim were a formidable team. To ensure their four children were always raised by a parent, they worked "split-shifts"—Jim during the day and Vera in the evenings as a medical assistant. Their priorities were focused and simple: good education for their children through private Catholic school education supported by a modest income and frugal lifestyle, and steadfast devotion to God and family. They were active members of St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Riverdale, Maryland, where they joined the "Cana Club", forming strong bonds that lasted a lifetime with families such as the Goldbeck’s and Rosenberger’s. They encouraged their kids to be active in sports, music, and drama by their consistent attendance and cheers at games and events. Daily meal and night prayers, seasonal daily rosary recitation, annual family spiritual retreats, and active participation in groups at St. Bernard’s nurtured a healthy appreciation for their connection to an eternal power.

Vera was a renowned cook, an avid camper, and a woman of immense spirit who famously had "no difficulty taking on any teenage boy brought home with an attitude." However, her greatest legacy of service was sparked by her son, Bernie. As a relentless advocate for Bernie’s needs, she became a champion for the special needs community, eventually receiving the Volunteer Services Award from Prince George’s County Park and Planning Special Populations program.

Vera is survived by her devoted husband of 71 years, James A. Degenhardt; her children, Gary Degenhardt of Houston, TX, Gail Battle of Rockville, MD Bernard “Bernie” Degenhardt, Brian Degenhardt and Nancy Sanders of Kirksville, MO. She also leaves behind eight grandchildren who she loved dearly and twelve great- grandchildren that always brough joy to her life. She was preceded in death by her parents, her three siblings, those within their Cana Club family, and her daughter-in-law Marinell.

Service Information

• Prayer Service: Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, at 7:00 pm at Mary Immaculate Catholic Church.
• Funeral Mass: Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, at 11:00 am at Mary Immaculate Catholic Church, 712 E. Washington St., Kirksville.
• Reception: Following the mass at the Newman Center at Truman State University, 709 S. Davis.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Special Olympics Missouri-Kirksville or to the Mary Immaculate Catholic School.