LaVerne “Vernie” Maxine McLennan, 94, of Oelwein, passed away peacefully, Wednesday, February 25, 2026 at Grandview Healthcare Center in Oelwein. Visitation will be from 4:00 PM-7:00 PM on Friday March 6, 2026 at the Geilenfeld-Buehner Funeral Home of Oelwein. Graveside services will be at a later date in Crane Creek Cemetery at Lawler.

LaVerne was born October 17, 1931 in New Hampton, Iowa to Alfred and Edith (Allen) Jacobson. She graduated from Ionia High School in 1950. She worked at the Northwestern Bell in Charles City, then at Tonka Trucks in Minnetonka, MN, and spent most of her adulthood as a farm wife 

Laverne was engaged to Charles McLennan on her birthday in 1951. On May 6, 1952 they were married at St. Olaf’s Lutheran Church in New Hampton. To this union two children were born, David Charles in 1955 and Laurie Anne in 1957. Her faith sustained her after the loss of her cherished daughter, Laurie, in 2016, and now they are together again.

Chuck and Vernie originally lived in Mound, MN and then they bought a farm in Jordan, MN. In 1969 they moved back to Iowa to farm southeast of Jerico. In 1979 they moved to Texas and stayed for 30 years, first to build a dairy at Mt. Vernon and later to build a horse-training facility in Emory, Texas. They raised and raced Thoroughbreds. They were blessed to have won quite a few races in Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. In 2008, they moved back to Oelwein, Iowa to be near family. 

Vernie most enjoyed cheering on her great grandchildren, driving her golf cart around town, feeding the squirrels, and you would most always see her reading in her rocking chair. She was quite the gambler, loved scratchers and won quite often. She was known for always giving a $2 bill in any birthday card. Her sense of humor could brighten any room, and once she made up her mind, there was simply no changing it. 

Left to celebrate Vernie’s life is her son David of Hampton; son-in-law Alan Behrends; grandchildren Brad Behrends of Mason City, Matt (Michelle) Behrends of Mason City, Kristi (Nate) See of Oelwein, Charlene Behrends of Oelwein, Alex Behrends of Gulfport, MS and Lindsey McLennan; great-grandchildren Alexis, Noah, Jackson, McKinzie, John-Henry, Lucas, Rylie, Emma, Cohen, Cambridge, and Emri; and she was most excited about a great-great granddaughter coming in May 2026. 

She is preceded in death by her husband Charles McLennan; her daughter Laurie Behrends; her parents Alfred and Edith Jacobson; mother- and father-in-law Ovie and Caroline McLennan; and brothers-in-law Bob and Paul McLennan.