Verner Ejstrup Mikkelsen was born in the village of Ejstrup [Ejdstrup] on the west coast of Sønderjylland; he retained the name of the village of his birth as his middle name. His father was a school teacher, and his mother a nurse. They had met in a hospital while his father was recovering from tuberculosis. After his recovery his father was assigned to a one-room school in the village of Darum Mark near the city of Esbjerg. The Mikkelsen family of parents and four children (Maria, Kirsten, Johannes and Verner (the youngest)), lived in a small apartment which was part of the school.
[The day Verner was born, his father, the teacher in Darum, gave the pupils the day off school. Jakobi Hillerup had been a pupil in that school at the time and had reminisced about that day off to celebrate Verner's birth. Personal communication from Poul, Knud and Svend Hillerup, sons of Jakobi Hillerup, 2018-10-20 in Toronto.]
Here the family lived through the occupation of Denmark, sharing the apartment with soldiers of the occupying German army. Verner spoke often of the great allied bombing raids passing overhead, of rotations of Germans staying in the home, and of Russian POWs tending the occupiers' horses. Significant dates for him were April 9th, the day Denmark was invaded by Germany, and May 5th, the day Denmark was liberated. Later in life, Verner expressed his gratitude to the Canadian liberators by his generosity in playing at the Legions in Uxbridge and Port Perry.
Verner's formal education ended at grade seven, and he became apprenticed to a blacksmith, making amongst other things, wheel rings for wooden wheels, on a coal fired hearth. Denmark after the war, however, changed rapidly, and wooden wheels were replaced by motorized transport and rubber tires. Verner apprenticed as a mechanic, first in Bramming, and after 1951 in Jyderup on Sjælland, where he moved with his father after the separation of his parents.
At some point in his early years, Verner was also given music lessons. During his apprenticeships, Verner augmented his income by playing his accordion at local dance halls. The additional funds allowed him to share with a friend a model T Ford called 'Henry'.
In July of 1953, Verner emigrated to Canada, via New York on the Norwegian ship Oslofjord, from Copenhagen, and by train from New York to Toronto. He arrived with the maximum amount of currency the Danish government allowed emigrants to take with them (approx. $75.00), no friends or relations, and almost no English.
He first found work with Paggetts, an Austin dealer in Richmond Hill, and later with Harold Mortenson's Massey Ferguson dealership.
In 1953, he met another Dane, Peer Nørgaard, another immigrant who had been in Canada since 1949. Peer played the violin, and the two musicians became fast friends. In 1954, Peer won first prize in a fiddle contest at the CNE, with Verner playing back-up. Newspaper coverage of the event, and the Danish surnames, caught the eye of another Dane, Betty Madsen, who with her husband John Madsen, had started a Danish-style folk school in Unionville. Verner and Peer were quickly hired to play for folk dance classes at the school, which they did for a number of years. It was at the Madsen's school that Verner met Kathleen (Kay) in 1956; Kay had enrolled in a course at the school, which taught folk dancing from Denmark, Germany, Austria, Scotland and Canada [and also Sweden]. They were married three years later in 1959 in Brown's Corners. That same year, Peer Nørgaard graduated from University of Toronto, and left to pursue a career in geophysics. Peer and Verner did not play together again until 1980, when the two were reunited. In the meanwhile, Verner worked at the B/A on Yonge Street, and finally became an entrepreneur, starting up Vern's Motor Service, first in Richmond Hill and later in Gormley. The young family moved several times, and grew to four children, Kris, John, Kirsten, and Mary-Jane.
In 1987, Verner sold his business, and began working for Richmond Hill Hydro. The additional leisure time he gained from now being an employee allowed him to devote his energies to his music, and social activities. He became involved with with Danish Lutheran Church, and the associated folk dance group, golden age group, choir and theatre groups. His final move was to a small farm in Sandford, Ontario, which he purchased after 1987.
Verner passed away in Uxbridge of a stroke at age 78. Kay followed less than a year later. Verner is survived by his sister Kirsten (Oesch) of Bern, Switzerland, and brother Johannes of Gredstedbro, Denmark.
Adapted from Forbundet af Danske Foreninger i Canada, Federation of Danish Associations in Canada/ 2012 heritage book: Vikings in Canada 2012. 31st Danish Canadian Conference. Gloucester, ON: Federation of Danish Association in Canada, 2012 pp. 177-185.
MIKKELSEN, Verner E. - September 15, 1932 - July 25, 2011 Passed away suddenly on Monday, July 25, 2011 at the Uxbridge Cottage Hospital in his 79th year. Beloved Husband of Kathleen "Kay" (nee Nighswander) for 52 years. Devoted Father of John (Debbie), Kris (Milly), Kirsten (Robert McFayden) and Mary-Jane. Proud Grandpa of Karley, Alexander, Andreas, Dayna, Colleen and Erik. "His beautiful accordion music will play on in our hearts forever." A visitation will be held at the Low and Low Funeral Home, 23 Main St. S., Uxbridge, 905-852-3073, on Thursday, July 28, 2011 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. A Funeral Service will be held in the chapel on Friday, July 29, 2011 at 11 a.m. Interment Sandford Cemetery. Reception to follow at the family home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lutheran Church, Toronto or to a charity of your choice. Online condolences may be made at www.lowandlow.ca Published in the Toronto Star on July 27, 2011
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