Verna Dee Warthan, 78, of Oelwein passed away on Friday March 28, 2014 at Oelwein Healthcare Center.  Verna gave as generously in death as she did in life by donating her body to the University of Iowa-Carver College of Medicine.  Memorial services will be 11 AM on Wednesday April 2, 2014 at First Baptist Church in Oelwein with Pastor Tim Schoepf officiating.  Inurnment will be at a later date in Woodlawn Cemetery at Oelwein.  A memorial fund has been established in Verna’s name.

Verna was born at Winthrop, IA on August 25, 1935 to parents Olive (Klumph) and William Peyton.  She graduated from Independence High School in 1953.  On March 20, 1965 Verna was united in marriage with LaVern (Sonny) Warthan in Elkader, IA.  She was a bookkeeper at her and Sonny’s family business-Warthan’s DX, as well as ABCO, Schulz Real Estate and Haun Real Estate.

Verna loved gardening.  She always planted her spring flowers and tended to them.  She also enjoyed cooking and baking, and going to the casino while Sonny sat on the deck eating hotdogs.  Most of all, Verna enjoyed her grandchildren.  She will be dearly missed by all who knew, and continue to love her.

Left to celebrate Verna’s life is her husband of 49 years, Sonny; her children: Kelli (Mike) Haun of Oelwein, Kim (Dick) Arndt of Oelwein, Kris (Eric) Gamm of Oelwein and Kari (Cody Ferrell) Veber of Irondale, MO; 13 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; her sister Tiny (Dallas) McAtee of Brandon; as well as friends.

Verna was preceded in death by her grandparents; her parents; her sons: Bill Loeb and Tim Warthan; her daughter Patty Russell-Warthan-DeForge; her sisters: Sherry (Bob) Mead and Betty (Glen) Tutwiler;  and her brother William Peyton, Jr.