LaVerne Charles Obrecht Obituary, Death – LaVerne Charles Obrecht, 87 of Malvern, IA, passed away on May 10, 2022 as a result of a stroke. He was born March 15, 1935 to Lloyd and Myrtle Obrecht. LaVerne grew up in rural Harlan, IA. He was involved in Shelby County 4-H and enjoyed showing shorthorn cattle at the Shelby County and Iowa State Fair. He served as the Shelby County 4-H President.
He graduated from Harlan High School in 1953. He graduated from the Iowa State College with a degree in Animal Husbandry on July 24, 1957. He started his career as a youth assistant for the Crawford County Extension Service. He then moved to Malvern to serve as the Mills County Youth Director and then the Mills County Extension Director for 40 years.
LaVerne married Pamela Bass on October 29, 1960 in Malvern. They had three children together; Robert Dale who died at birth in 1972, Darren in 1973, and Adam in 1976. He started the Mills County 4-H Teen Club and took club members on citizenship trips to Washington D.C. for many years.
LaVerne and Pam had fun leading an agricultural trip through Europe for 10 days in 1979 with Rural Route Tours. They belonged to a mainstream square dancing club in Mills County and a plus level club in the Midwest.
LaVerne was active in raising and showing sheep and horses with Adam and Darren for their 4-H projects. He also raised evergreen trees for many years. He went with the boys on a high adventure backpacking Boy Scout trip to Big Horn Mountains in Wyoming.
LaVerne was awarded the National Association of County Agricultural Agents Distinguished Service Award in 1996. He was named Citizen of the Year by the Glenwood Area of Chamber of Commerce in 1997 for outstanding leadership and organizational skills. LaVerne and Pam were inducted into the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame in 2009 for their many years of service.
LaVerne was a member of the Malvern Methodist Church and served in the past as a treasurer and lay leader. He was a past member of the Malvern Rotary Club and the Masonic Order. LaVerne served with Pam on the Mills Co. Saddle Club and SISCO horse show organizations. He loved and was proud of his family and supported their many activities.
LaVerne is survived by his wife of 61 years Pamela; his son Darren, daughter-in-law Sherri, and grandsons Ryan, Tyler and Carson, from Omaha; his son Adam, daughter-in-law Denise, and grandsons Max and Seth, from Urbandale, IA; sister Julienne Ferry from Harlan, IA; and sister-in-law Cindy Bass Brewbaker and brother-in-law Bill Brewbaker from Indianola, IA. He was preceded in death by his son Robert Dale; brother-in-law Richard Ferry; and his parents.
VISITATION: Thursday, May 12, 2022, 5-7pm, at the Charles E. and Florence M. Lakin Community Center in Malvern. FUNERAL SERVICE: Friday, May 13, 2022, 10:30am, at the Lakin Community Center in Malvern. Burial in the Malvern Cemetery. Memorials to the Mills County 4-H Foundation.
Loess Hills Funeral & Cremation Center
