LaVerne Richard

Funeral services for LaVerne Richard of Lake Park, will be 2 pm Tuesday, May 20, 2014 at the United Methodist Church in Lake Park. Visitation will begin at 1 pm Tuesday, at the church. Interment will be at Silver Lake Cemetery in Lake Park. LaVerne Leon Richard, the son of Alma (Bergeson) and George Richard, was born January 3, 1923 in Estherville, Iowa. On January 25, 1943, LaVerne was enlisted into the United States Army Air Force and served in Italy during WWII. LaVerne was honorably discharged in November 1945. On November 26, 1943, LaVerne was united in marriage to Mavis Fern Molendorp in Tampa, Florida. The family farmed in rural Lake Park until moving to their home on Silver Lake after retirement. LaVerne was a member and served as a lay leader at the Excelsior Methodist Church and was currently a member of the Lake Park Methodist Church as well as the local American Legion. He was a past school board member of the Excelsior School and was a member of the bowling league in Lake Park. LaVerne enjoyed farming, fishing, playing cards, cribbage and bowling. The family always looked forward to their family fishing trips. LaVerne passed away May 15, 2014 at the Lake Park Care Center at ninety-one years of age. He is survived by his wife of seventy years, Mavis; brother, Duane (Mavis) Richard of Lake Park; sister, Maurine (Charlie) Pinegar of Des Moines, Iowa; children, Janice (Bruce) Bush of Milford, Iowa, Connie (Gary) Newell of Aberdeen, South Dakota, Gary (Bobbie) Richard of Estherville, Iowa and Terry (Kelly) Richard of Lake Park; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Alma; brothers, Dale, Merle and LeRoy; granddaughter, Wendy Newell.