SEIDEL, Verne M. 1918-2017

SEIDEL, GEISTLINGER, BEREND

Posted By: K. L. Kittleson
Date: 6/21/2017 at 19:39:33

U.S. VETERAN

Verne Martin Seidel

March 3, 1918 - June 18, 2017

Verne M. Seidel, 99, of Raymond, Iowa, went to his heavenly home on Sunday, June 18, 2017.

He was born March 3, 1918 in Lincoln, Nebraska, son of Julius M. and Isabella Geistlinger Seidel.
Verne graduated from West High and attended the Iowa State Teacher’s College (UNI) for two years. Verne worked at the Rath Packing Company in the Advertising Department and retired in 1980.

Verne was drafted into the US Army in May 1941 and was assigned to a Medical Detachment, 3rd Battalion of the 168th Infantry Regiment. He was stationed in Algeria and participated in the Battle of Sidi Bou Zid. He was captured by the Germans at Faid Pass in North Africa on February 17, 1943. He remained a POW at Stalag IIIB in Furstenberg, Germany. He was selected for a prisoner exchange in January 1945 and was repatriated, arriving home to Waterloo in February 1945. He was discharged from the service in May 1945.

He was the oldest World War II veteran and POW in Black Hawk County at the time of his death, and his war years are chronicled at the Grout Veterans Museum in Waterloo.

Verne married Irene Berend on April 24, 1945, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Raymond, Iowa. She died July 11, 2016.

He is survived by a son, Tim (Dona) Seidel of Kansas City, Mo, two daughters, Karen (Mike) Woodhouse of Nora Springs and Michele (Steve) Phillips of Cedar Falls; grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Verne was preceded in death by a brother, Vic Seidel and a sister, Betty Kinstler.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church with burial in the church cemetery, both in Raymond. Visitation will be from 3-7 p.m. Wednesday at Hagarty-Waychoff-Grarup Funeral Service on South Street, where there will be a rosary at 4 p.m. and a vigil at 6:30 p.m. Visitation also 1 hour preceding services at the church.

Full military rites will be conducted by Gilbertville American Legion Nugent Demuth Post 714, with flag folding by the Iowa Army Honor Guard.

Memorials may be made to St. Joseph’s Catholic Church or the Bosco Catholic School System.

Verne was very involved in his community and his parish. In September 1951, he helped organize the Raymond Community Club which sponsored many community activities. He was instrumental in the incorporation of the Town of Raymond, IA in February 1956 and was elected to the first City Council in April 1956.

Verne was baptized into the Catholic Faith while a POW in Germany. He was involved in many St. Joseph Parish activities and was a frequent mass server, rosary leader and lector.

Verne was a kind, compassionate and loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He had a gentle spirit and was the Pillar of the Seidel family.

Source: Hagarty-Waychoff-Grarup Funeral Service website