Verna K. Horn

Verna K. Horn, 91, passed away December 6, 2025 at Manor Court Nursing Home in Rochelle after a long illness.

She was born March 22, 1934, in Markville, MN to Dean and Dollie (Furman) Kendall. She graduated from Rochelle Township High School in 1952 and started working as the secretary to the Superintendent the next day. She was later employed as a secretary at Kepner & Kepner Insurance in Rochelle.

She married Bill Wren in 1953; they were divorced in 1960. She married Norman A. Horn in 1961. He preceded her in death on December 17, 2009. She and Norman traveled throughout the U.S. and Canada on meandering driving trips. She never outgrew her love of dolls and collected them for many years. She made many of her own clothes. Her real talent was in knitting and crocheting, which she started as a young girl and kept up for nearly 80 years. Verna was well-known for her customized designs, such as family name panels and one-of-a-kind sweaters. Many people in the area were gifted the cozy knitted socks that she made by the dozens for years.

She used her love of needlework to help others as much as possible, sending baby clothes and blankets to charities, warm clothing and afghans for soldiers and veterans in need, and even sweaters for chickens and penguins in distress.

She gave generously to many charities and was especially happy to be a charter member of the World War II Museum in New Orleans, LA. In addition to her husband and parents, Verna was preceded in death by her brother and sister-in-law, Clifford and Betty Jane Kendall of Covington, TN, and stepdaughter, Kathy Bush of Mississippi.

She is survived by her loving children, Warren Dean Wren and Wendy Horn, both of Rochelle; four grandchildren, Angelica (Mark) Janssen, Alicia Eirls, and Alexis (Aaron) LaBrie, all of Spokane, WA, and Cullen Wren of Reno, NV; eight great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; stepdaughter, Cynthia Eaton (Dena Beecher) of Cape Coral, FL; daughters by choice, Renee Page of Rochelle and Victoria Wren of Zephyr Hills, FL; and several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., December 12, 2025 at Unger Horner Funeral Home, 400 N. 6 th St., Rochelle, IL with Pastor Michael Wolff officiating. A private burial will be held later at Trinity Memory Gardens, Rochelle, IL. Memorials can be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church, Rochelle, IL. Visit www.ungerhorner.com to sign the online guest book.