Verlin L. Hall

Verlin L. Hall

Verlin L. Hall joined his Heavenly Father on Saturday August 25, 2007 from his home in Fort Dodge.

A celebration of Verlins life will be held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, August 29, 2007 at the Bruce-Graham Funeral Home with Pastor Doug C. Rushton officiating.  Burial will follow in the North Lawn Cemetery, Fort Dodge.  Visitation will be held from 5 until 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Verlin, son of Harold and Thelma (Oleson) Hall was born at the family home in Homer, IA on June 6, 1927.  He was raised on the family farm with his sister Ardis (Lyle) Fitzgerald of Ames.  He attended country schools and graduated from Otho High School in 1945.

Verlin farmed with his parents until entering the Army Signal Core as a clerk typist.  He was fond of noting that his entry led to fear in the enemy, and their surrender nine months later.

He returned to farming for 42 years until his retirement in 1993.  He was well known for his clean fields as well as his vegetable and fruit gardening.  He was always generous with the produce grown, with many benefiting from his gardening prowess.

He was married.  From this union were born daughter Penny Scharff of Des Moines,  son Garry now deceased,  daughter Julie (Tim) Thompson of Owensboro, Kentucky and son Rick (Joy) of Boone, IA.  This relationship later ended in divorce.

Verlin celebrated his spiritual birthday on December 9, 1966.  He actively participated in services at his local church and with The Full Gospel Businessmen and was a board member for the local Womens Aglow.  He received a Bible certificate from the Kenneth Hagin Ministries in Tulsa, OK and regularly attended their annual camp meeting with son Garry.  He was an insightful adult Sunday School teacher adding points from his visit to the Holy Land and a Bible resource person spending many hours in study.  He did short term missions work in Italy, Haiti and Mexico.

After 16 years of singleness, while providing one of his typical charitable acts, he met the widowed Joan (Crawford, Foster).  They became inseparable and were joined in marriage in September of 1990.  With the added womans touch the home environment changed as he continued farming and his expert baking.  Strawberry and raisin cream pies and home made ice cream were his specialties.  After retirement they moved to a farm-like setting in the Sheker addition outside Fort Dodge.  They attended New Covenant Christian Church in Fort Dodge.

In his final years Verlin was slowed physically by the effects of Parkinson disease, but maintained a sharp wit and mind.

Verlin is survived by his wife and sister, as well as Garrys daughter Tannica Manley (4-great grandsons and one great granddaughter); and son Garry Jr.;  Pennys daughters Colleen (Matt) Krogman and Angela Scharff (one great-grandson); granddaughter Ali and grandson Ross of  Julie & Tim; and grandsons Nick and Chris (Andrea) ( one great granddaughter) of Rick & Joy. 

He is also survived by step children Suzanne (Dr. Brian) Welch of Fort Dodge,  Deanne (Tony) Ellis of Urbandale and Stephen (Janelle) Foster of Van Meter, IA.,  granddaughters Shannon,  Andrea (John) McLaughlin (one great grandson) and Jana (Bradley) Hook from Suzanne & Brian,  Deannes children Amanda, Truman and Rebekah Groves,  and  granddaughter  Stacey and grandson Grant of Stephen & Janelle.

In lieu of flowers memorials are requested to be sent for the building fund at New Covenant Christian Church of Fort Dodge or Hospice of Fort Dodge.

Bruce-Graham Funeral Home