LaVerne Wayne Flagel (1934-2020)

FLAGEL, DOTY

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 8/17/2020 at 20:33:20

LaVerne Wayne Flagel, 86, of Marion, Iowa, died from natural causes Sunday, August 9, 2020 at St. Luke’s Hospital. A private family funeral is pending, and a celebration mass will be held at a later date. Cedar Memorial Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Survivors include his five children, Jacki (Bill) Bridges of Cedar Rapids, IA, Barb Flagel of Newhall, IA, Thomas (Theresa Elworth) of Franklin, TN, Ann (Mark) Rushton of Iowa City, IA, Dan (Michele) Flagel of Shellsburg, IA; his grandchildren, Joel Shrader, Adam Colbert (Caitlynn Petroff), Laura (Terence) Travagiakis, Jake Shrader, Maggie (Luke) Polaski, Emma (Tyler) Schwartz, Rebecca (Colin Vande Weerd) Bridges, Isabel Rushton, Zoe Rushton, and Jessie Trujillo, and one step-grandson, James (Nicole) Beins; his great-grandchildren Olive Colbert, Iris Colbert, Joey Polaski, and Mason Polaski; and two step-great-grandsons Gus and Teddy Beins. He is also survived by sisters-in-law Barb Varley and Kay O’Brien, several nieces and nephews, and special friend Suzanne Griggs and her family.

He was proceeded in death by his wife, Clarice Flagel, his son, Joseph Flagel, parents Melvin and Nola Flagel, and brothers-in-law Bob Varley and Tom O’Brien.

LaVerne was born on January 19th, 1934 in Maquoketa, Iowa. He graduated with a degree in civil engineering from The University of Iowa in 1955, and was a captain with the Army National Guard. He married Clarice Doty on August 27th, 1955, and spent his entire career with Rinderknecht Associates and Merit Construction, retiring as the company’s president in 1999. After retirement, LaVerne became a Catholic Deacon for All Saints Church in Cedar Rapids, presiding over countless weddings, baptisms, and funerals until his retirement from the deaconate in 2014.

A voracious reader, he lived in a book-filled home, and loved conversations about history, philosophy, and theology. Golf was his passion, and he achieved his first hole-in-one in his 80s. He enjoyed a good meal, the daily crossword, watching (and grumbling over) Hawkeye sports, and relishing a martini or two. LaVerne was known for his humor and had many friends whom he loved dearly, especially the members of The Friday Morning Group.

He was honored to serve on committees, boards, and leadership positions for a number of organizations, including Kirkwood Community College, Mt. Mercy College, Downtown Rotary Club, Elmcrest Country Club, Master Builders of Iowa, Cedar Rapids Country Club, Xavier High School, Meth-Wick Retirement Community, and The Boy Scouts, among others.