Schuning, LaVerne LeRoy ("John") (1935 - 2019)

SCHUNING, NEVE, MUSFELDT, HANSEN, POPE, TAYLOR, STENDRUP, OSBAHR, PAGE, SCHNEIDER, DAMGAARD, NIKLASEN

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 8/22/2019 at 15:17:44

Name of deceased: LaVerne LeRoy "John" Schuning

Aged: 84 yrs, 1 mo, 26 days

Residence: Harlan, Shelby County, IA

Born: June 14, 1935; Avoca, Pottawattamie County, IA

Died: Aug. 9, 2019; Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital, Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie County, IA

Funeral services: Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2019; Immanuel Lutheran Church, Harlan, IA; burial was in the Harlan (IA) Cemetery

Survived by: Children, Janelle (spouse, Kurt) Musfeldt of Harlan, IA, Craig Schuning (spouse, Karla) of Shawnee, KS, and Trent Schuning (spouse, Traci) of Portsmouth, IA; grandchildren, Chelsea Musfeldt, Thane Schuning (spouse, Nicole), and Taylor, Tifani, and Taryn Schuning; great-granddaughter, Gwendolyn Schuning; sisters, Donna Hansen of Harlan, IA, Karen Pope of Avoca, IA, Diana (spouse, Dennis) Taylor of Avoca, IA, and Debbie (spouse, Jerry) Stendrup of Harlan, IA; brothers, Steve Osbahr (spouse, Rita) of Avoca, IA, and Larry Osbahr (spouse, Connie) of Arvada, CO; nieces; nephews; other family members and friends

Predeceased by: Parents, Lloyd Schuning and Ella (nee Neve) Schuning Osbahr; wife, Doris; sisters, Jacqueline Page, Carol Schneider, and Bonnie Jean Damgaard

Education: Attended school in Avoca, IA, until age 17, when he enlisted in the U. S. Army

Religious affiliation: Baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church, Avoca, IA

Military service: Enlisted in the U. S. Army and served during the Korean conflict, spending 14 months there and achieving the rank of Staff Sergeant.

Marriage: Doris Niklasen; Aug. 7, 1959; Bethany Lutheran Church, Kimballton, IA

Employment: After his military discharge, he returned to Avoca, IA, and began driving truck for the Alfalfa Mill and for Schueman Brothers and doing other various jobs. After moving his family to Harlan in 1961, he was employed by the Nishnabotna Valley REC. In 1973, he opened and operated his own electrical business in Harlan until 1984. He then worked for Farmers Mutual Cooperative Telephone Company and retired from there in 1993.

Hobbies/Interests: John was very active in the Harlan, IA community. He was an active member, followed by honorary member, of the Harlan Fire Department. He served on the Veteran's Memorial Commission Board, was a past Masonic member as well as a past member of the Harlan Shrine Club, and served in the Iowa National Guard. John was a member of the American Legion Post #150. He was active as the chairman for the American Legion fireworks committee for over 25 years. After John’s own bout with cancer in 1993, Doris and John were extremely active for over 20 years in the American Cancer Society, serving on the American Cancer Board and were instrumental in the startup of the cancer support group at the Harlan hospital, as well as bringing the Relay for Life to Shelby County. John volunteered with Road to Recovery and drove many patients to their treatment appointments. As a result of his involvement with the community, he received the honors of Shelby County Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year in 2001 and FMCTC Hometown Hero in 2004. John was an avid collector of NASCAR, Texaco, and sports memorabilia. He especially enjoyed attending his grandchildren’s sporting events and activities.

Sources: kjan.com; knodfm.com; pauleyjones.com