Verna Mae Kirchhoff Bredehoft, 90, of Emma, MO, passed away on Monday, January 13, 2025, at Good Shepherd Care Community in Concordia, Missouri.
Visitation will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, January 17, 2025, Campbell-Lewis Funeral Home in Concordia, Missouri. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, January 18, 2025, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church. Burial will be at Holy Cross Cemetery. Friends may sign the online register book at www.campbell-lewis.com.
Verna Mae was born on September 12, 1934, on a farm north of Sweet Springs, Missouri to Leonard and Emma Pragman Kirchhoff, and was baptized at Mt. Zion Lutheran Church, Blackburn, Missouri. She was confirmed in her Lutheran faith in March of 1948 at St. Mathew Lutheran Church, Ernestville, Missouri. Verna Mae was a member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Emma Missouri, from the time of her marriage to her passing.
Verna Mae began her work career as a shoe cutter at International Shoe Company in Sweet Springs, Missouri in 1951. In 1953 at the company Christmas party, she met the love of her life, Herbert Bredehoft. They were married on July 31, 1954, at St. Matthew’s Parsonage in Emestville, Missouri. Herb and Verna Mae lived in Emma, Missouri their entire married life. They were blessed with a daughter, Phyllis Ann in 1955 and a son, Wendell Curtis in 1959.
Verna Mae and Herbert owned and operated Bredehoft Grocery in Emma from 1955 to l996 when they retired. In her spare time, Verna Mae enjoyed embroidering quilt blocks and won several ribbons at the local fairs for her beautiful quilts. She also enjoyed growing flowers. Verna Mae was particularly proud of her ability to propagate African Violates.
All throughout her life, Verna Mae was a kind and caring person. In her teens, she took care of her grandmother after a debilitating stroke, and continued to care for her parents and parents-in-law. She finally cared for her husband after Alzheimer Disease left him incapable of caring for himself. All of these family members preceded her in death.
Verna Mae leaves to mourn, her daughter, Phyllis Bredehoft and husband Donald Smith of Blue Springs, MO; son, Wendell Bredehoft and wife Teresa of Concordia, MO; grandchildren Katherine Smith of Emma, MO, William Smith and fiancee Alexandra Bingham of Cuyahoga Falls, OH, Christopher Hovde of Kansas City, MO and Shawn Hovde of Alma, MO; sister, Ruby Shinn and husband John of Independence, MO; brother, Merle Kirchhoff and wife Jane of Independence, MO; sister-in-law Anna Kirchhoff of rural Concordia, MO; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Those preceding her in death were her husband, Herbert Bredehoft; her parents, Leonard and Emma Kirchhoff; her brothers, Harold, Delmar and Norbert Kirchhoff; and sister-in-law, Edith Kirchhoff.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Holy Cross Lutheran Church.