VERLE LENZ

VERLE LENZ

Jewell

Verle Lenz, age 81, of Jewell, died Thursday, April 16, 2009 at Bethany Manor in Story City. There will be a memorial service at 1:30 p.m. Monday at the United Church of Christ with burial of his cremated remains to follow at the Glenwood Cemetery in Goldfield, Iowa. A gathering of friends and family will be Sunday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Becker Funeral Home in Jewell with a 7 p.m. Masonic Service. Memorials may be given to the United Church of Christ in Jewell.

Verle Darwin Lenz was born February 15, 1928 in Floyd, Iowa to Clifton Arlie and Vera Virginia (Scholl) Lenz. He graduated from Story City High School in 1945 and then attended Iowa State University's farm management courses. On December 3, 1950 Verle married Patricia Olson at the Goldfield Christian Church in Goldfield, and began farming in 1951 with a 1948 Model "A" John Deere. They came to Jewell in 1957 and farmed west of Jewell. Verle retired after 40 years of farming. He was a member of the United Church of Christ in Jewell where he served as a head usher for many years, the Kohinoor Masonic Lodge # 576 of Story City, Coachmen Campers, Farm Bureau, the NIAPRA Automobile Club, and was 4-H photography leader. Verle loved classic cars and fishing. He went to northern Canada fishing in the fall for many years.

Verle is survived by his wife, Pat of Jewell; children, Verle Blaine (Cheryl) Lenz of Story City, Marcene I. Lenz of Larkspur, Colorado, Tracy H. (Robin) Lenz of Menominee Falls, Wisconsin, and Melanie M. Lenz of Austin, Texas; a brother, Nicholas L. (Jenni) Lenz of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Lowell C. Lenz; and a sister, Doris L. Lenz Lindoerfer.