Bolen, Verner W. 1900-1987

BOLEN, LAMB, GRAHAM, PECH, SMALLEY

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 10/14/2010 at 13:20:29

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register; Sept. 1987

VERNER BOLEN SERVICES HELD

Verner W. Bolen, 87, of 1528 Tenth Ave., Grinnell, died of a stroke Monday, Sept. 21, at St. Francis Manor.

Funeral services were conducted at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Grinnell Christian Church, with the Rev. John Epperson officiating. Organist was Jolene Jones, and vocalist was Roger Kendall. Pallbearers were his grandchildren, Bruce Bolen Jr., David Bolen, Ben Bolen, Jim Pech, Tom Smalley and Catherine Smalley. Burial was in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Brooklyn, with the Smith Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be left at the funeral home.

The son of William and Sylvia Lamb Bolen, he was born May 18, 1900, in Poweshiek County. He attended rural school.

On Oct. 28, 1922, he was married to Carrie Graham in Des Moines. The couple farmed in Poweshiek County, moving to Grinnell in 1945. Mr. Bolen represented Pfister Hybrid Seed Corn Co. from 1937 to 1971. He had also worked as a carpenter and during World War II worked at a defense plant in Ankeny. He was a charter member of the Grinnell Christian Church and was a former member of the Elks Lodge.

He is survived by his wife; two daughters, Dora Pech of Peoria, Ariz., and Ann Smalley of Elmhurst, Ill.; two sons, Donald of Houston, Texas, and Bruce of Tama; 13 grandchildren; and 30 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by three brothers and one sister.