Obituaries

LaVerne “Vern” Anton Birrenkott of Madison passed away peacefully on Wednesday January 15, 2025 at the age of 91. A devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather, Vern was well known in the community as the longtime owner of Birrenkott Appliance Inc.

Vern was born on Dec 9, 1933 to Leo and Catherine (Hellenbrand) Birrenkott. He grew up on Atwood Avenue with his sisters Helene (Pertzborn) and Lorraine (Maly), ironically just walking distance from his future appliance store. His childhood was filled with hockey games at Olbrich Park, softball with his life-long friends and working at the nearby Monona Drive-In Root Beer Stand (Hungry, Hungry). He graduated from East High School in 1951, worked at Madison Kipp before serving in the Army as a tank mechanic in Germany.

Before enlisting, Vern met Valerie O’Brien at a dance at the Park Ponderosa Ballroom in McFarland WI. Upon returning home, they married on August 17, 1957 and shared 67 beautiful years together, raising five sons and creating a lifetime of memories.

Vern began his career as appliance repairman at Montgomery Ward. There he met Ken Snell, and in 1961 the two took a leap of faith and opened Snell & Birrenkott Appliance on Williamson Street. In 1984, Vern became the sole owner of Birrenkott Appliance, located “at the corner of Atwood & Fair Oaks.” Known for his exceptional customer service, Vern handled everything from sales, delivery, and appliance repair, always going the extra mile for his customers. He operated the business for 60 years until retiring in 2021. The family thanks longtime employees Elmer Braun, George Mulcahy and Mike Pahmeier for their dedication to Vern and the business.

Outside of work, Vern was a true family man and lifelong member of St. Dennis Parish. He took his family on many camping trips, locally with the St. Dennis Campers as well as out-of-state road trips. Together Vern and Val enjoyed their special trips – to Austria, Bahamas, Jamaica, Hawaii, and especially Ireland. Vern and Val shared a lifelong love of live music, gracefully dancing the waltz, polka, and square dances throughout their entire time together.

Vern is survived by his beloved wife Valerie; his five sons Mark (Ginny), Gary, Eric, Brian (Laurie), and Jeff (Leslie); seven grandchildren Scott, Drew (Morgan Breene), Brant (Lianna Mack), Kirsten (Zach) Thayer, Erica (Stephen) Miller, Teagan, and Jase; four great grandchildren Ace, Leo, and Chloe and Evelyn; and his two sisters Helene Pertzborn and Lorraine (Norm) Maly. He was preceded in death by his parents, mother-in-law Martha Schulz, brother-in-law Fred Pertzborn, and nephew Bill Maly.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at ST. DENNIS CATHOLIC CHURCH, 505 Dempsey Rd., Madison. Visitation will be held from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at RYAN FUNERAL HOMES, 2418 N. Sherman Ave., Madison, and also from 10:00 a.m. until the time of Mass on Wednesday at the church. Burial will follow at Highland Memory Gardens, Madison.

To view and sign this guestbook, please visit: www.ryanfuneralservice.com