Lavern Renze
June 29, 1921 — April 8, 2024
LaVern (Vern) Renze was born on a farm near Dedham, IA. That year his parents bought a farm and moved there in the spring. The timing to buy land was wrong. They struggled for about 9 years and simply could not make the payments and lost everything in a foreclosure about 1931. In 1933, they moved to the farm his mother was raised on. They had no money, so everyone in the family helped with the farm work.
During the war, Vern was classified 4-F by the army and moved to Des Moines in 1943. First, he worked as a parts man, later working at the Des Moines ordnance plant making 30 and 50 caliber bullets until the war ended.
Vern married Kathleen Klein in 1946. They had four children, David, Lloyd, Karen, and Mike. He managed his sister-in-law's ice cream parlor for a few years and then became a door to door salesman for Fuller Brush. At first, he worked in Jefferson, relocating to Harlan in 1962. He sold brushes for 45 years, retiring in 1992.
In retirement, Vern did volunteer work. He and his wife drove for Meals on Wheels and he sang in a local singing group entertaining at nursing homes and senior centers. As Kathleen's health declined, he took over the cooking, housework, and caregiving until her death in 2015.
Vern passed away on April 8, 2024 attaining the age of 102 years, 9 months, and 10 days. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ellen and Joseph Renze; wife, Kathleen Renze; and son, David Renze. He is survived by his children, Lloyd (Joy) Renze of Urbandale, IA, Karen Hunter of Omaha, NE, Michael (Josephine) Renze of Columbus, NE; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; other relatives and friends.
An 11:00 AM Mass of Christian Burial was officiated by Rev. Alan Reicks at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Harlan, Iowa on Saturday, April 13, 2024. Lloyd Renze, Greg Renze, Mike Renze, Joseph Renze, John Renze, and Ron Smith served as casketbearers. A burial was held following the service at Harlan Cemetery in Harlan, Iowa.
Pauley Jones Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
During the war, Vern was classified 4-F by the army and moved to Des Moines in 1943. First, he worked as a parts man, later working at the Des Moines ordnance plant making 30 and 50 caliber bullets until the war ended.
Vern married Kathleen Klein in 1946. They had four children, David, Lloyd, Karen, and Mike. He managed his sister-in-law's ice cream parlor for a few years and then became a door to door salesman for Fuller Brush. At first, he worked in Jefferson, relocating to Harlan in 1962. He sold brushes for 45 years, retiring in 1992.
In retirement, Vern did volunteer work. He and his wife drove for Meals on Wheels and he sang in a local singing group entertaining at nursing homes and senior centers. As Kathleen's health declined, he took over the cooking, housework, and caregiving until her death in 2015.
Vern passed away on April 8, 2024 attaining the age of 102 years, 9 months, and 10 days. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ellen and Joseph Renze; wife, Kathleen Renze; and son, David Renze. He is survived by his children, Lloyd (Joy) Renze of Urbandale, IA, Karen Hunter of Omaha, NE, Michael (Josephine) Renze of Columbus, NE; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; other relatives and friends.
An 11:00 AM Mass of Christian Burial was officiated by Rev. Alan Reicks at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Harlan, Iowa on Saturday, April 13, 2024. Lloyd Renze, Greg Renze, Mike Renze, Joseph Renze, John Renze, and Ron Smith served as casketbearers. A burial was held following the service at Harlan Cemetery in Harlan, Iowa.
Pauley Jones Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
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