Verena Z. Seberg

Verena Zeller Seberg, 95, Topeka, died Sun., Dec. 30, 2007. Verena was born Nov. 1, 1912 in Paxico KS, the daughter of Michael and Mary Meinhardt Zeller. She graduated from Mount St. Scholastica Academy in Atchison in 1931 and received her diploma as a registered nurse from St. Francis Hospital, Topeka KS in 1934. During the spring of 1935, Verena served with the Red Cross in the dust bowl area of western Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas panhandle. After that she was assigned to general duty at Fort Riley KS on civilian status. Verena was commissioned in the Nurse Corps of the Army Medical Dept. at Fort Riley in June 1936 and remained assigned there three years. She was transferred in July 1939 to Sternberg Army Hospital in Manila, Philippine Islands. She was assigned as Asst. Chief Nurse at March AFB, Calif. until 1944 when she was transferred as Chief Nurse to Walla Walla AFB, Wash. From there she went to Brandley AFB, Conn. as Chief Nurse and then to Mitchel AFB, Long Island NY as Chief Nurse. Verena completed the Flight Nurses course at the School of Aviation Medicine, Randolph AFB, Tex. in June 1946 followed by a year at Columbia University. Following that Verena served almost a year on a regular Army Integration Board in the Pentagon reviewing records of applicants for the regular Army Nurse Corps and presenting the recommendations to the Integration Board. Following that assignment, she served with the Military Air Transport Service in Air Evacuation of patients from Europe to the US and from coast to coast in the US. She was then assigned to the Air Surgeon’s office in Jan. 1949 when the Air Force established a separate Medical Services and she was designated acting Chief Nurse of the Air Force Nurse Corps. In Aug. 1951, she became Chief of the Air Force Nurse Corps and was promoted to the grade of Colonel. Among other citations, Verena was awarded the Legion of Merit upon retirement. During Verena’s tenure as Chief of the Air Force Nurse Corps, she traveled extensively, visiting AF nurses assigned to AF bases world-wide. This took her to England, Germany, Tripoli, North Africa, Casablanca, Saudi Arabia, Hawaii, Okinawa, Philippines, Japan, Korea, Alaska, Greenland, Newfoundland and AF bases in the continental US. On Dec. 28, 1949, Verena and Col. Marco Pettoruto were married. He died in 1976. On June 23, 1990, Dr. G. Herbert Seberg and Verena were married. He survives. Other survivors include, Herbert’s children, George H. Seberg, Jr. Honolulu, Lewis A. Seberg, Ayr NE, Sara Gotchey, Manhattan; five grandchildren; a sister, Mercedes Sayler, Topeka; brother, Alvin (Margaret) Zeller, Paxico; a sister-in-law, Matilda Zeller, Topeka; brother-in-law, Dr. L.J. Caponergo, Hicksville, NY and 32 nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by siblings, Sr. Maxine OSB, Florian Zeller, Mildred Degenhardt, Louise Dedonder and Thelma Caponegro. Daughters of Isabella will pray a rosary at 4 p.m. Wed. at Kevin Brennan Family Funeral Home, 2801 SW Urish Rd, Topeka KS 66614, and a parish rosary will be prayed at 6 p.m. Family will greet friends from 5 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thurs. at Christ the King Church. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Paxico at 1 p.m. Memorial contributions are suggested to Christ the King Church, Topeka and Sacred Heart Church, Paxico sent in care of the funeral home.

Verena Z. Seberg

January 1, 1753 - January 2, 2007