Joe attended Holy Redeemer Elementary School and Central High School. He obtained his bachelors and masters degrees from the University of Wisconsin. After his graduation in 1933, he taught science at Edgerton High School, as well as taking a coaching position there.
Joe joined the Army during World War II rising to the rank of sergeant. In 1961 Joe was appointed Postmaster of the Village of McFarland. During his postal career, he operated the McFarland Tavern, the McFarland Real Estate Company, and developed Karwood Hills Subdivision in Westport, WI. Joe also ran as a Democratic candidate for the Wisconsin State Assembly.
Because of his expertise in card playing, Joe wrote seven books that established him as an international authority of skat and cribbage. He is know for applying a scientific approach to card play and developing the Wergin System for evaluating skat hands. Joe served as the North American Skat League secretary and president, and was the first vice president of the International Skat Congress.
Joe retired from the United States Post Office in 1970 to devote himself full-time to promoting card play, He taught sheepshead and skat at the University of Wisconsin Memorial Union. He lead in the formation of the American Cribbage Congress in 1979 and served as president for 13 years. Joe established a network of ACC Grass Roots Clubs, standardized tournament play, developed a round-robin method of qualification play, and organized the annual Tournament of Champions. His last project as ACC President was to start a youth cribbage program to help children improve their math skills.
Joe was honored by being the first living person elected to the Cribbage Hall of Fame. The Joseph Petrus Wergin/ACC Invitational Tournament in Reno, NV was named for him, an annual cribbage tournament held each February, which draws over 1000 players each year.
Joe was survived by his daughter, Ginny White of Madison, WI and sister Julia Harris of Spring Valley, CA. He was predeceased by his parents, John & Clara Wergin; his wife, Jeannie; a daughter, Elaine; brother Gary Wergin; sisters Agnes Goede, Martha Koch and Katherine Hardy, and dear friend Marguerite Dukes.
Joe joined the Army during World War II rising to the rank of sergeant. In 1961 Joe was appointed Postmaster of the Village of McFarland. During his postal career, he operated the McFarland Tavern, the McFarland Real Estate Company, and developed Karwood Hills Subdivision in Westport, WI. Joe also ran as a Democratic candidate for the Wisconsin State Assembly.
Because of his expertise in card playing, Joe wrote seven books that established him as an international authority of skat and cribbage. He is know for applying a scientific approach to card play and developing the Wergin System for evaluating skat hands. Joe served as the North American Skat League secretary and president, and was the first vice president of the International Skat Congress.
Joe retired from the United States Post Office in 1970 to devote himself full-time to promoting card play, He taught sheepshead and skat at the University of Wisconsin Memorial Union. He lead in the formation of the American Cribbage Congress in 1979 and served as president for 13 years. Joe established a network of ACC Grass Roots Clubs, standardized tournament play, developed a round-robin method of qualification play, and organized the annual Tournament of Champions. His last project as ACC President was to start a youth cribbage program to help children improve their math skills.
Joe was honored by being the first living person elected to the Cribbage Hall of Fame. The Joseph Petrus Wergin/ACC Invitational Tournament in Reno, NV was named for him, an annual cribbage tournament held each February, which draws over 1000 players each year.
Joe was survived by his daughter, Ginny White of Madison, WI and sister Julia Harris of Spring Valley, CA. He was predeceased by his parents, John & Clara Wergin; his wife, Jeannie; a daughter, Elaine; brother Gary Wergin; sisters Agnes Goede, Martha Koch and Katherine Hardy, and dear friend Marguerite Dukes.
Joe attended Holy Redeemer Elementary School and Central High School. He obtained his bachelors and masters degrees from the University of Wisconsin. After his graduation in 1933, he taught science at Edgerton High School, as well as taking a coaching position there.
Joe joined the Army during World War II rising to the rank of sergeant. In 1961 Joe was appointed Postmaster of the Village of McFarland. During his postal career, he operated the McFarland Tavern, the McFarland Real Estate Company, and developed Karwood Hills Subdivision in Westport, WI. Joe also ran as a Democratic candidate for the Wisconsin State Assembly.
Because of his expertise in card playing, Joe wrote seven books that established him as an international authority of skat and cribbage. He is know for applying a scientific approach to card play and developing the Wergin System for evaluating skat hands. Joe served as the North American Skat League secretary and president, and was the first vice president of the International Skat Congress.
Joe retired from the United States Post Office in 1970 to devote himself full-time to promoting card play, He taught sheepshead and skat at the University of Wisconsin Memorial Union. He lead in the formation of the American Cribbage Congress in 1979 and served as president for 13 years. Joe established a network of ACC Grass Roots Clubs, standardized tournament play, developed a round-robin method of qualification play, and organized the annual Tournament of Champions. His last project as ACC President was to start a youth cribbage program to help children improve their math skills.
Joe was honored by being the first living person elected to the Cribbage Hall of Fame. The Joseph Petrus Wergin/ACC Invitational Tournament in Reno, NV was named for him, an annual cribbage tournament held each February, which draws over 1000 players each year.
Joe was survived by his daughter, Ginny White of Madison, WI and sister Julia Harris of Spring Valley, CA. He was predeceased by his parents, John & Clara Wergin; his wife, Jeannie; a daughter, Elaine; brother Gary Wergin; sisters Agnes Goede, Martha Koch and Katherine Hardy, and dear friend Marguerite Dukes.
Joe joined the Army during World War II rising to the rank of sergeant. In 1961 Joe was appointed Postmaster of the Village of McFarland. During his postal career, he operated the McFarland Tavern, the McFarland Real Estate Company, and developed Karwood Hills Subdivision in Westport, WI. Joe also ran as a Democratic candidate for the Wisconsin State Assembly.
Because of his expertise in card playing, Joe wrote seven books that established him as an international authority of skat and cribbage. He is know for applying a scientific approach to card play and developing the Wergin System for evaluating skat hands. Joe served as the North American Skat League secretary and president, and was the first vice president of the International Skat Congress.
Joe retired from the United States Post Office in 1970 to devote himself full-time to promoting card play, He taught sheepshead and skat at the University of Wisconsin Memorial Union. He lead in the formation of the American Cribbage Congress in 1979 and served as president for 13 years. Joe established a network of ACC Grass Roots Clubs, standardized tournament play, developed a round-robin method of qualification play, and organized the annual Tournament of Champions. His last project as ACC President was to start a youth cribbage program to help children improve their math skills.
Joe was honored by being the first living person elected to the Cribbage Hall of Fame. The Joseph Petrus Wergin/ACC Invitational Tournament in Reno, NV was named for him, an annual cribbage tournament held each February, which draws over 1000 players each year.
Joe was survived by his daughter, Ginny White of Madison, WI and sister Julia Harris of Spring Valley, CA. He was predeceased by his parents, John & Clara Wergin; his wife, Jeannie; a daughter, Elaine; brother Gary Wergin; sisters Agnes Goede, Martha Koch and Katherine Hardy, and dear friend Marguerite Dukes.
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