Elgar LaVerne Judd

LaVerne Judd, 84, of Mt. Pleasant, IA, died Tuesday, May 30, 2006, at his daughter's home, following a lengthy illness. Visitation will be held Friday, beginning at noon at the Olson - Powell Memorial Chapel, where the family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Friday evening. Funeral services will be held Saturday, at 2:00 p.m. at the Olson - Powell Memorial Chapel with Pastor Ken Smith officiating. Burial will be in the Pleasant Grove South Cemetery with full military rites. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established to the Henry County Cancer Fund. Born December 4, 1921, in Oakville, IA, he was the son of Lewis Henry and Martha Ivy Calhoun Judd. He graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1940. In August of 1942, Mr. Judd was inducted into the United States Army. He was a sergeant in the Fifth Cavalry Reconnaissance Troops during World War II. On February 28, 1945, he was wounded during an enemy attack in Germany, and was a recipient of the purple heart for injuries sustained in that battle. On January 5, 1947, he married Eva May Humbert in Salem, IA. She preceded him in death on August 6, 2004. After their marriage, LaVerne farmed in the Salem area. The family later moved to Mt. Pleasant, where LaVerne began working for Mt. Pleasant Utilities. He also worked for Cargill, Inc., Shafer Ford, which later became Mt. Pleasant Ford Tractor. He was then employed by Alco and upon their closing, began working for Wal-Mart where he retired in 2001 after 15 years of service. LaVerne was a lifelong resident of Henry County, having lived in Hillsboro, New London and Mt. Pleasant. He was also a member of the Church of the Nazarene in Mt. Pleasant. Survivors include three daughters, Maxine Nichols of West Burlington, IA, Nancy Landes and Martha Messer, both of Mt. Pleasant, IA; three sons, William Judd and Robert Judd both of Mt. Pleasant, IA, and Thomas Judd of West Burlington, IA. Also surviving are seven grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, seventeen great-grandchildren and five great-great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, two sisters Betty Wittstock and Martha Szewczyk Gregory, and by a brother Russell Judd.