Tiernan, LaVerne Henrietta (Thompson) 1924 - 2017

TIERNAN, THOMPSON, BLUM, DRTINA, CARLSON, NELSON, KLEINWOLTERINK, MEYER, DUGAN, SWANSON, VINE, WALKER, KAKOS, CARROLL, HAUGEN, REUM, DICKMAN

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 1/6/2017 at 10:32:55

LaVerne Tiernan, age 92, of Decorah, IA, died on Sunday, January 1, 2017, at the Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, January 9, 2017, at St. Benedict Catholic Church, 307 West Main Street, Decorah, IA, with Rev. Phil Gibbs presiding. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Friends may call from 3:00-6:00 p.m., on Sunday, January 8, 2017, at the Schluter – Balik Funeral Home, 604 South Avenue, Decorah, and also after 9:30 a.m., on Monday at the church. There will be a rosary at 4:00 p.m. and a V.F.W Auxiliary service at 6:00 p.m. The casket will be closed.

LaVerne Henrietta (Thompson) Tiernan was born on September 16, 1924, the daughter of Ole and Gusta (Blum) Thompson in Canoe township, rural Decorah, IA. LaVerne graduated from Decorah High School in 1942. She worked at Grosser’s Cafe, the Bakery, Piggly Wiggly, Sandy’s Cafe, and for Rosel’s and Rambo Pharmacy for over fifteen years between the two. She was united in marriage to Giles Tiernan on January 9, 1954, in the Irish settlement at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Cumming, IA. LaVerne has been fortunate to have raised her family and lived in the same home for fifty-nine years. After the children were raised, she returned to Rambo Pharmacy and worked until she retired in 1988. LaVerne was an accomplished seamstress who sewed many bridesmaid and special occasion dresses as well as costumes. She also had a creative side where she baked elaborate birthday cakes for her family birthdays. Often, she would compose poems to accompany Christmas gifts or birthdays cards. She was a Boy and Girl Scout leader as well as a Decorah Kiltie Mother. She enjoyed volunteering for the Vesterheim Museum, the Retired Seniors Volunteer Program (RSVP) and St. Benedict Catholic School. She also enjoyed class breakfasts, dinners and birthday parties. But most of all she was a stay at home mom and loved spending time with her children, grandchildren and attending family get-to-gethers. LaVerne was a member of St. Benedict Catholic Church St. Marie’s Circle and a VFW Ladies Auxiliary member for 69 years.

LaVerne is survived by her four children: Dennis Tiernan, Cedar Rapids, IA; Janet Tiernan, Burnsville, MN; Craig (Kris) Tiernan, Dubuque, IA; and Karen Drtina, Ridgeway, IA. Eleven grandchildren: Chelsea (Erik) Carlson, Siobhan (Ryan) Nelson, Cassandra Kleinwolterink, C.J. Tiernan, Ashlee Tiernan, Zachary Tiernan, Cameron Tiernan, Keghan Tiernan, Alanda (Brandon) Meyer, Brendan Drtina and Ciara (fiancé, Tim Keck) Drtina. Six great grandchildren: Kara Dugan, Violet Nelson, Greta Nelson, Samuel Meyer, Jameson Meyer and Maxton Carlson. Two sisters: Margaret Swanson, Richland, WA, and Darlene Vine, Decorah, IA, and many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.

LaVerne was preceded in death by her parents: Ole and Gusta (Blum) Thompson, her husband: Giles Tiernan on Oct. 31, 1988, one grandson: Sean Tiernan in 1986. Three brothers: Raymond Thompson in infancy, Harold (Ruth) Thompson, and Orval Thompson. Six sisters: Lucille (Robert) Walker, Gertruth (Nicholas) Kakos, Dorothy (George) Carroll, Francis (Orval) Haugen, Alice (Frederic) Reum and Beverly (Edward) Dickman.

Source: Schluter - Balik Funeral Home database

St. Benedict Cemetery
 

Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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