LaVerne Graber

LaVerne L. Graber, 83, of Wayland, IA, died Sunday, June 3, 2007, at the Henry County Health Center in Mt. Pleasant. Visitation will begin after 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 5, 2007, at the Olson - Powell Memorial Chapel, where the family will receive friends from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. that evening. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, June 6, 2007, at 2:00 p.m. at the Wayland Mennonite Church with Pastors Pam Unruh and Gerry Klopfenstein officiating. Burial will be in the North Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established to Gideon's International and to H.O.P.E. Scholarship Fund at the Wayland Mennonite Church. Born June 14, 1923, in Crawfordsville, IA, LaVerne was the son of Peter and Magdelena Wenger Graber. He was a 1941 graduate of Crawfordsville High School. On June 24, 1945, he married N. Elizabeth Schroll at the Wayland Mennonite Church. She preceded him in death on February 8, 1997. He married Ruth Leichty in October 1998. She preceded him in death in January 2007. LaVerne taught at the Douglas School in rural Wayland. During World War II, as a conscientious objector, he served his country working in Michigan testing milk at a dairy, and also helped build a dam in Terry, MT. Following the war, LaVerne began to farm near Noble, IA. Later he moved to Trenton, IA, where he owned a dairy herd. At that time, he also owned and operated a gas station and sold Ford Tractors and Implements in Brighton and Wayland. For many years, LaVerne sold real estate and was engaged in a tax preparation service, and continued that practice until 2006. LaVerne was active in Gideon's International and was a member of the Wayland Mennonite Church. He was a member of the Henry County Cattleman's Association and was named the Cattleman of the Year in 1998. LaVerne was also very concerned and interested in the conservation of the land. Survivors include four daughters, Rita (Don) Davis of Mt. Pleasant, Treva (Dr. Vincent) Walsh of Montoursville, PA, Jocelyn Graber of Topeka, KS, and Lynita Hunt of Mt. Pleasant, IA; four sons, Leland (Vicki) Graber of Wayland, IA, Duane (Phyllis) Graber of Mt. Pleasant, IA, Adrian (Angie) Graber of Orion, IL, and Sheldon (Tammy) Graber of Clive, IA; 31 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are four brothers, Erwen (Ruth) Graber, Daniel (Marge) Graber, Peter (Wanda) Graber, Jr. and Calvin (Betty) Graber; and two sisters, Verena Moore and Lucille Shewmake. Also surviving is LaVerne's fiance, Mildred Houseal of Washington, IA. LaVerne was preceded in death by his parents, his wives, one sister, Anna Mae Martin, and by a great-grandson, Canaan Collora Davis.