Varenhorst, Norman August 1925 - 2011

VARENHORST, BECKER, HAAGE

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, Volunteer (email)
Date: 5/25/2011 at 09:21:02

Norman Varenhorst

Date of Death
Monday, February 14, 2011

Le Mars, Iowa

Norman Varenhorst, 85, of Le Mars passed away Monday, February 14, 2011 at the Good Samaritan Society in Le Mars.

Funeral Services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, February 17, 2011 at Carlsen Funeral Home in Le Mars, Iowa. Reverend Ben Worley of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Brunsville, Iowa will officiate. Burial with military rites conducted by the Heeren-McHale-Wilken Legion Post 724 of Brunsville will be in Resthaven Memory Gardens in Le Mars, Iowa. Visitation will be after 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 16, 2011, with the family present after 5:00 p.m., and a Prayer service at 7:00 p.m., all at the funeral home. Visitation will resume from 9:30 a.m. until service time on Thursday at the funeral home.

Norman August Varenhorst was born April 25, 1925 near Craig, Iowa, the son of Henry and Elsie (Becker) Varenhorst. He was baptized and confirmed into the Christian faith. He was raised in Plymouth County and attended country school.

Following his schooling, he helped his father and started driving truck. In 1945, he was drafted into the United States Army. He was stationed in New York, serving as a military policeman during the WWII era. He was honorably discharged in 1947. Following his duty in the military, he returned to the area and began working with an area farmer.

He was united in marriage to Lois Haage on April 8, 1947 at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, Preston Township, rural Akron, Iowa. He and Lois farmed in Plymouth County for many years. In 1992, they moved to Le Mars. Norman still stayed very active with the farm, helping his son and his family until his health began to fail.

Norman was a longtime member of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Brunsville and the Heeren-McHale-Wilken American Legion Post 724 in Brunsville. One of Norman’s greatest joys through the years was attending cattle auctions and sale barns. He also enjoyed camping and fishing. But most of all, he loved the times spent with his friends and family, especially his grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife of over 63 years, Lois of Le Mars; his children: Patsy Cook (Dean) of Lincoln, NE, and Jerry Varenhorst (Donna) of Le Mars; 3 grandchildren: Jennifer Cook (James Weesner) and their family, Myiah and Ashton, all of Lincoln, NE, Ashley Cook of Lincoln, NE, and Adam Varenhorst of Ames, IA; 3 sisters in law: Cleone Varenhorst, Katherine Varenhorst, and Eva Varenhorst, all of Le Mars; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; 5 brothers: Elmer, William, Fritz, Erwin, and Harry; a sister: Beverly Jurgenson; a sister in law: Dorothy Utesch; and great granddaughter: Angelina.

Carlsen Funeral Home
Le Mars, Iowa