Verlyn 'Swede' Roskam, Age 85, Father of Rep. Peter Roskam

Verlyn ‘Swede’ Roskam, father of Rep. Peter Roskam, passed away on March 13 at age 85.

A visitation will be held from 3 to 9 p.m. March 20 at Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Primary St., Wheaton. The funeral is 2 p.m. March 21 at College Church, 332 E. Seminary Ave., Wheaton.

Swede Roskam is survived by his wife of 61 years, Martha Jacobsen Roskam and his five children: Stephen (and Chandler) of Oak Park, Dick (and Phyllis) of Indianapolis, Sarah of Seattle, Washington, Peter (and Elizabeth) of Wheaton and Maribeth (and Jon Coote) of Rogersville, PA. He is also survived by 17 grandchildren: Gracey Roskam, Frankie Roskam, Steve Roskam, AJ Roskam, Jack Roskam (deceased), Jacob Roskam, Mica Roskam, Hilary Roskam, Jon Roskam, Lilly Roskam, Bryan Simpson, Hope Simpson, Jayne Averitt, Ian Coote, Peter Coote, Jonathan Coote Jr, and Philip Coote.

Swede Roskam attended Wentworth Military Academy in 1949, and he graduated from Knox College in 1951. He served as company commander in the Korean War, and at the 50th Anniversary Ceremony, he was honored by the government of Korea.

The family of an American soldier who was killed at Normandy used the insurance money to help Swede Roskam, a stranger to them, to attend college, according to an article by Peter Roskam. Swede repaid his debt and more by founding the Educational Assistance Limited in 1982. EAL has raised millions of dollars and helped more 10,000 students at colleges in the U.S.

Swede Roskam was a successful international salesman for 45 years at Oil-Dri Corporation of America. He retired at age 84.

In 2002, Swede Roskam and his wife bought 37 military dog tags from a street market in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and they hired a private investigator to help them track down and the veterans and their families to whom each dog tag belonged, the Associated Press reported.

In lieu of flowers memorial gifts may be sent to support Bible translation as follows:
Payable to Wycliffe Associates, PO Box 620368, Orlando, FL 32862
Please include on the check memo:
Scott Crickmore/Ministry Account M10445/Roskam Memorial

Biography information provided by the Office of Congressman Peter J. Roskam.