Orville Dale Cerven, 85, of Corning died July 10, 2011, at Stanton Care Center.
Celebration of Life Services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 14, at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Corning. The Rev. Philip Ritter will officiate. Interment will be in Prairie Rose Cemetery in Corning. Open visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Pearson-Coen-Beaty Family Funeral Service, 701 Seventh St., Corning. Memorials may be directed to Hospice of Southwest Iowa – Corning, Redeemer Lutheran Church and/or Stanton Care Center. Online condolences may be left at www.pearsonfuneralhomes.com.
Orville Dale Cerven, son of to Marjorie (Akers) and Oscar F. Cerven, was born Jan. 17, 1926, near Gravity.
Dale attended rural school in Holt Township. After eighth grade he attended and graduated from Gravity High School in 1944.
After graduation, Dale started farming with his father. He continued this occupation for 61 years.
In 1954, Dale married Marcia Bycroft and they lived on a farm next to his father.
After two years, they moved to Adams County to a farm in Lincoln Township.
In 2005, Dale retired from farming because of poor health.
He served as an Adams County soil commissioner for many years.
Dale was a member and served on the board of Adams County Farm Bureau. Also, he served on the Federal Land Bank Association board, was a member of Southwest Farm Business Association and Adams County Extension Council and served as a Lincoln Township trustee. In addition, he served as a 4-H leader of the Busy Beavers Club.
In later years, he was a 30-year board member of Adams County Mutual Insurance.
Dale was an active member of Redeemer Lutheran Church, where he served as treasurer for several years.
Dale is survived by his wife Marcia; children, Edward Cerven of Ankeny, Vicki (husband Charles) Astell of Troy, Mich., Judith Cerven of Cedar Hill, Texas, and Diane (husband Tom) Jenn of Iowa City; brothers, Dean (wife Betty) Cerven of Weldon and Duane (wife Evelyn) Cerven of Blanchard; sister Dorothy Hicks of Gravity; brother-in-law Ronald Bycroft of Fort Collins, Colo.; grandchildren, Ryan and Cassie Jenn, Juleen and Jennifer Cerven, Danielle Joyce and Rochelle Cerven; many nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors.
Dale was preceded in death by his parents; brother-in-law Talton Hicks and “special in-laws” Henry and Gladys Bycroft.