Verlyne Westphal

Verlyne Westphal, 85, of Corning, died July 25, 2015, at his home.

A memorial service will be held 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5, at the Corning Redeemer Lutheran Church. The Rev. Philip Ritter will officiate. Burial will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Massena Center Cemetery, Massena, with military honors provided by the Iowa Army Honor Guard. Visitation with family present will be 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Pearson Family Funeral Service, 701 7th St., Corning. Memorials may be directed to the Corning Redeemer Lutheran Church and/or Hospice of Southwest Iowa. Online condolences may be left at www.pearsonfuneralhomes.com.

Verlyne Otis Westphal, son of Otis Alfred and Mildred Axline (Roberts) Westphal, was born Aug. 1, 1929, on a farm in Adams County. Verlyne attended the Quincy Independent School. He was a member of the Quincy Laddies Boys 4-H Club, and FFA in high school. He graduated from Corning High School in 1947. He attended Iowa State University majoring in animal science prior to working at the Raymond Moore Implement Firm.

Verlyne served in the United States Army from 1951 to 1953 during the Korean conflict. He spent 18 months in France and also received training at the Military Police School in Oberammergau, Germany. Upon release from the service, Verlyne began farming in 1953 on a farm adjacent to his father’s farm. He moved to a farm in Mercer township in 1954. Verlyne’s farming consisted primarily of raising corn, soybeans, cattle, and farrow to finish swine production.

On Feb. 6, 1955, Verlyne married Leona Elizabeth VonDielingen, of Clarinda, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Clarinda. Verlyne and Leona moved to Corning in 1976. During this time Verlyne became a licensed Real Estate Agent and Broker and formed his own firm.

Verlyne was member of Corning Rotary, Farm Bureau, and Happy Hollow County Club. He volunteered helping with congregate meals at the Corning meal site. He was a member of the Corning Redeemer Lutheran Church and served the church in many capacities. Verlyne was also a member of the Adams County Republicans, where he once served as the treasurer.

Verlyne is survived by his wife Leona of Corning; children, Linda (husband Rex Jr.) Eberly of Corning, Deborah (husband Mike) Olive of Corning, Diane McCarthy of Ames, Loretta (husband Tim) Gray of Nodaway, Randy (wife Traci) Westphal of Corning, and Melanie Grigsby of Biloxi, Miss.; 15 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren with two more expected; sister Averyle (husband Roy) Ehrle of Des Moines; sister-in-law Lucille (husband John) Bengtson of Essex; extended family member Esther Smart and many other relatives and friends.

Verlyne was preceded in death by his parents; brothers-in-law, Elmer VonDielingen and Emmett VonDielingen; and sister-in-law Lois Steeve.