Joseph Petrus Wergin

Joseph Petrus Wergin learned to play cards at age five when his mother taught him a two-handed version of euchre. Playing cards was the favorite form of recreation for the six Wergin children and their parents. As the fifth child, he learned casino, hearts, sheepshead, and rummy from his older siblings. By the time he was 17, he had mastered skat which is considered by many to be the premier card game.

Joe was a natural teacher and promoter. While attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison, he worked for the city recreation department as a playground director. He taught athletic skills to neighborhood children and organized contests and tournaments.

After obtaining a master's degree in education, he taught science and coached high school athletics, worked at the Wisconsin Legislature, and later joined the US Postal Service, retiring years later as a Postmaster.

Joe was a leader in state and national skat and sheepshead organizations. In 1979 he organized the American Cribbage Congress and served as President for 11 consecutive terms.

He was an authority on skat and other games for the Official Rules of Card Games (Hoyle) published by the United States Playing Card Company.

He wrote and edited a newspaper column on skat and wrote and distributed magazines on skat, sheepshead, and cribbage; and for many years conducted local, state, and national tournaments for skat, sheepshead, euchre, and cribbage.

Over 75 years of card playing, Wergin amassed a lifetime knowledge of sound play, strategic leads, trick plays, and the psychology of competition. He compiled his vast knowledge of card games in several books. You can share his "wonderful world of cards" and play your favorite games using all the expert knowledge available.