Verna Garnmeister

VERNA MAE STANGE GARNMEISTER was born on May 20, 1924 at home in Sioux County, Iowa to Reinhold and Anna Marie (Bunge) Stange. She was raised on the family farm and attended school in Hull, Iowa graduating in 1942. After graduation Verna worked as a telephone operator in Hull. On January 8, 1950 she was united in marriage to Rufus Garnmeister at St. Paul Lutheran Church of rural Hull. The couple settled on a farm in Springwater Township, Rock County, Minnesota, 13 miles Northwest of Luverne, Minnesota. There they worked the land and raised their three daughters, Paula, Mary, and Ruth. In 1964 Verna began her catering career at the Blue Mound Inn by Luverne, Minnesota and she continued there until her retirement in 1990. In 2001 after 51 years on the farm, Verna and Rufus moved to Luverne. On April 25, 2015, Rufus preceded Verna in death. On Saturday, October 12, 2019, Verna passed away peacefully at the Good Samaritan Society – Mary Jane Brown Home at the age of 95 years, four months, and 22 days.

Verna was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne. Verna was active in several circles, the Women’s Society, and served as a Stephen Minister. She helped with the monthly church newsletter, funeral committees, and the quilting group. Verna was a member of the Enterprise Extension Club and enjoyed tending to her vegetable and many flower gardens. She enjoyed sewing and volunteering for many activities. Cooking and creating new recipes brought enjoyment to those who tasted her specialties such as watermelon pickles, corn cob jelly, and homemade root beer. Her hospitality and holiday meals were a highlight to friends and family. Verna always fostered a strong relationship between her family and God and she cherished the time spent with them. A special camaraderie was shared in the neighborhood through card parties and social events causing laughter to fill the room. Throughout their retirement years, Verna and her husband Rufus were able to enjoy travels throughout the United States and Israel.

Verna will be lovingly remembered by her three daughters, Paula and her husband John Peterson of Aurora, Colorado, Mary and her husband Claude Vahle of Highland, California, and Ruth and her husband Scott Kannenberg of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; five grandchildren, Sarah (Kevin), John (Amie), Andrew (Sheri), Kathryn (Luke),and Jared (Margaryta); and seven great-grandchildren, Ashley and Janelle, Ian, Dane, and Skye, Kaylen and Lily, and Roxolana due on November 11, 2019. She was preceded in death by her husband, Rufus; her parents, Reinhold and Anna Stange; a brother, Paul Stange; and a sister, Marjorie Anderson.