LaVerne Richard Kollbaum 1933-2013

KOLLBAUM, FICK, DAVIS

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 2/18/2013 at 13:53:43

Sioux City Journal
18 January 2013

SERGEANT BLUFF | LaVerne Richard Kollbaum, 79, of Sergeant Bluff died Jan. 15, 2013, from complications due to a fall.

Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at First Lutheran Church in South Sioux City, with the Rev. Jerry Gilbreath officiating. Military rites will be conducted during the service Saturday at the church. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel in Sioux City.

LaVerne was born on Feb. 11, 1933, in Mapleton, Iowa, the son of Walter R. and Hilda (Fick) Kollbaum. He gradated from high school and took several advanced courses in the military.

He retired from the U.S. Air Force with more than 25 years of service. His later years were served with the 185th Air National Guard in Sioux City, retiring in 1992. He had many tours including the Korean conflict.

While stationed at England Air Force Base in Alexandria, La., he met and married Charlene Davis on Jan. 23, 1954, in Bentley, La. They raised two sons and two daughters and were proud grandparents and great-grandparents.

He owned and operated Vern and Larry's Service Station in Sioux City. He worked for Robert's Dairy for 20 years in sales and sales management for country routes. LaVerne retired from Robert's, but put it on hold and purchased four of Robert's routes to become an independent distributor, doing business as C&L Dairy Distributors in Sioux City. He sold C&L Dairy and became a bus driver for Sergeant Bluff-Luton schools for 13 years waiting for Charlene to retire.

LaVerne was an avid Iowa Hawkeye fan, who enjoyed yard work, gardening, golfing, his 1930 classic Chevrolet, dancing, boating and attending his grandchildren's ball games and concerts. LaVerne and Charlene also enjoyed their lake home in Okoboji, they had for 15 years.

LaVerne also served on the Sergeant Bluff-Luton school board for 12 years and was a past member of the Sergeant Bluff Moose and the South Sioux City Eagles clubs.

Survivors include his wife, Charlene Kollbaum; a son and his wife, Michael and Lynn Kollbaum of Sergeant Bluff; two daughters and their husbands, Brenda and Brad Schindel of Hinton, Iowa, and Debbie and Larry Vertrees of Munford, Tenn.; eight grandchildren, James Kollbaum and his fiancee, Ambre, Thomas Kollbaum, Casey Miller and his wife, Heidi, BreAnn Regan and Kase, Brecca Schindel and her fiance, Shawn, Brady Schindel, Brylee Schindel, and Jordan Kollbaum; four great-grandchildren, Emmalee, John, Jaxson, and Gabbie; three brothers and their wives, Roger and Pat Kollbaum of Storm Lake, Iowa, Larry and Alice Kollbaum of Anthon, Iowa, and Garry and Sue Kollbaum of Moville, Iowa; a sister and her husband, LaDonna and Bob Downing of Omaha; and several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter R. Kollbaum and Hilda Fick Kollbaum; and his son, Rick Kollbaum.