MICHAELS, Laverne R. 1923-2004
MICHAELS, HALVERSON, CHEHOCK
Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 2/15/2009 at 19:47:41
"Mike" Michaels
ST. ANSGAR, IOWA — LaVerne R. Michaels, 80, of St. Ansgar, died Sunday, January 25, 2004, at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa in Mason City.
Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the First Lutheran Church in St. Ansgar with the Rev. Robert Porisch officiating. Burial will be in the First Lutheran Cemetery in St. Ansgar. Military honors will be by the Walter T. Enneberg Post No. 358 of the American Legion of St. Ansgar. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. today at the Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home in St. Ansgar.
LaVerne R. “Mike” Michaels was born on October 9, 1923, in Worth County, the son of Benjamin and Isabel (Halverson) Michaels.
Following the death of his mother when he was 5, he lived with and was raised by his foster parents who were his aunt and uncle, Sever and Lizzie Halverson. He was baptized and confirmed at First Lutheran Church. He graduated from St. Ansgar High School in 1941.
On January 16, 1943, he entered the military service and proudly served his country in World War II as a medic, serving in the European Theater of Operation. He participated in the Normandy Invasion, and the Battle of the Bulge –for which he received two bronze stars as well as the Good Conduct Medal. In June of 1997 he received a gold medal from the French government for his participation in the Liberation.
Following his honorable discharge on November 8, 1945, he enrolled in and graduated from Hamilton College. He was employed in the office of The REA in St. Ansgar as head bookkeeper and office manager for seven years.
He married Verva Chehock on October 22, 1947, at the United Methodist Church in Plymouth, and they made their home in St. Ansgar. In February 1954, he became employed by the St. Ansgar State Bank and continued there for 35 years, retiring in 1989 as senior vice president.
He was a life-long member of First Lutheran Church, taught Sunday School, was Sunday School superintendant, and chairman of the congregation.
His service to the community included treasurer of Boy Scouts, secretary of St. Ansgar Athletics, secretary of St. Ansgar School Board, secretary-treasurer of Advisory Board of Good Samaritan Center, nine years on Library Board including serving as president, 10 years on City Council, and six years as mayor.
He was a 57-year member of American Legion, was Post Commander and served on the firing squad and honor guard. In his leisure time he enoyed golf, bowling, and watching sports.
He was preceded in death by his mother, foster parents and siblings, Gladys Nelson, Stanford Halverson, and Dorothy Stoll.
He is survived by his wife, Verva of St. Ansgar; one daughter, Suzanne (Dean) Shoars of Waverly, two sons, Steven (Mary Jane) Michaels of St. Ansgar, and Mark Michaels of St. Ansgar; five grandchildren, Jason (Jennifer) Shoars of Asherville, N.C., Ryan Shoars of Clearwater, Fla., Brendan Shoars of Lubbock, Texas, Lindsey and Laura Michaels of Iowa City; one great-grandson, Jackson Shoars of Asherville, N.C.; and foster brother, Gerald (Mary Ann) Halverson of St. Ansgar.
Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, (641) 713-4920.
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Photo of Mike and Verva.
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