LaVerne Gnade, age 81, of Butler, Missouri, formerly of Cedar Falls, Iowa, was born the son of Carl Henry and Mildred (Warnacke) Gnade on July 25, 1936, in Cedar Falls, Iowa. LaVerne attended Cedar Falls High School and later received his GED. LaVerne joined the United States Army and was stationed in Ft. Hood, Texas.
On November 30, 1960, LaVerne was united in marriage with Melva “Jean” Nielsen in Ft. Hood, Texas. When LaVerne was discharged from the Army, they moved to Waterloo, Iowa, then Evansdale, Iowa, and later to Parkersburg, Iowa. After losing their home in the tornado in 2008, Laverne and Jean moved to Cedar Falls. They relocated to Missouri in 2016. LaVerne was employed at John Deere in the shipping and receiving department. In 1984, he retired due to health reasons.
LaVerne was a member of The Church of Latter Day Saints. LaVerne loved to fish and hunt. He also enjoyed gardening and doing yardwork. LaVerne’s greatest joy was spending time with family, especially his children and grandchildren.
LaVerne passed away Friday, November 10, 2017, in Butler, Missouri. He is preceded in death by his parents, one sister, Joan Ritter; a nephew, Donald Ritter and a niece, Joannie Wimmer.
LaVerne is survived by his wife of almost 57 years, Jean; one son, Richard (Cheryl) Gnade of Webster City, Iowa; three daughters, Connie (Robert) Fuller of Holland, Iowa, Jeannie (Dave) Ellis of Adrian, Missouri and Pamela (Robert) Bixby of Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin; a step-daughter, Susan Gnade of Big Cabin, Oklahoma; 13 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; two brothers, Gary Gnade of Oskaloosa, Iowa and James (Jeannie) Gnade of West Palm Beach, Florida.
Funeral Services will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, November 18, 2017, at the Redman-Schwartz Funeral Home in Parkersburg, with burial in the Oakwood Cemetery in Ackley, Iowa.
Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday, at the Redman-Schwartz Funeral Home in Parkersburg.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family.
