LaVerne Bouska

LaVerne C. Bouska age 86 of Lawler, IA, died Saturday, February 6, 2016, at his home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 9, 2016, at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church, Lawler with Rev. Nick March celebrating the Mass. Interment will be in the church cemetery at a later date. Military honors will be conducted by the Lawler American Legion. Friends may greet the family 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. Monday at the church. Visitation continues an hour prior to the Mass at the church on Tuesday. Arrangements are with Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home in Lawler. 563-238-2764 If so desired, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made in the name of LaVerne Bouska, to the charity of your choice. LaVerne Charles Bouska was born Aug. 25, 1929, the son of Julius Michael and Mary 'Mayme' Theresa (Schlichte) Bouska. He was born on the family farm, south of Waucoma, Iowa. Verne was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Waucoma. He also attended schools in Waucoma and Alpha. In 1951, Verne was drafted into the United States Army, taking basic training at Camp Breckenridge, Kentucky. He served with the Anti-Tank and Mine Platoon in Germany for 1 years, spending two years in the U.S. Army before being honorably discharged. On October 17, 1953, at St. Luke’s Catholic Church in St. Lucas, Iowa, Verne was united in marriage to the love of his life, Alberta Mary Hackman. To this union four children were born. Their first home was east of Waucoma where Verne worked, a year and a half, as a hired hand for Jack Adams. The couple later rented a farm Southwest of Waucoma for five years. In 1960, they moved to their farm six miles south of Lawler, Iowa where they farmed and raised dairy cattle, hogs, and beef. Verne was active in the Chickasaw County ASCS and in the Chickasaw County DHIA Association, of which he was the president for many years. He was a member of Mt. Carmel Parish in Lawler where he was active as a lay minister and an usher. Verne was a member of the American Legion Post #279 at Lawler which included terms of being the Vice Commander and Commander. He carried the American flag, leading the Dairy Day parade, for many years. In 1991, the couple retired from farming and moved to Lawler. They went on several long trips after moving to town and kept on going to dances. Dancing was a recreation, and a joy, for all their years together. When living in Lawler, he was a caretaker for the Senior Apartments for several years. He was an active member of the Senior Citizens group and did many volunteer jobs including delivering the Meals on Wheels. He enjoyed morning coffee with the men at the caf in town and playing cards with friends and walking. The most special thing in his life was his family. Verne is survived by his wife, Alberta; four children, Kathleen (Chad) Connelly of Guttenberg, Karen (Robert) Kleve of Clermont, Duane (Lori Lee) Bouska of St. Olaf and Daryl (Laure) Bouska of rural Waucoma; 15 grandchildren, Heaven, Colten, and Colin Connelly, Lori (Jason) Herrstrom, Melissa (Wendy) Chotiner, Jolene (Dustin) Meyer, Corey (Dawn) Kleve, Becky (Derek) Prostine, Craig (Kim) Kleve, Wendy (John) Crossett, LeAnn (Brian) Anderson, Danelle Bouska (Darrin VansCoy), Darin Bouska, Bridget and Lindsey Bouska; 17 great-grandchildren, Karli and Wyatt Herrstrom, Jace, Brinley, Callen Meyer, Lexie, Leah, Braxton Kleve, Ainsley, Jantzen, and Emery Prostine, Clay, Keigan, Maci Kleve, Joshua, Evelyn, and Benjamin Anderson; two sisters, Vera Rimrodt and Irma (Bob) Kime; two brothers, Joe Bouska and Cletus (Lorna) Bouska; brother and sister in laws, Doris Bouska, Mary Ann Hackman and Jeanette (Elmer) Buchheit; many neices, and nephews. Also surviving are special family friends, Pat (Jane) Wedo, Randy (Melissa) Wedo and their children, Kendyl and Reid Wedo and Stephanie, Nick and Katie Wedo. Preceding him in death were his parents; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Carl and Mathilda (Schmitt) Hackman; brothers, John (Rosemary) Bouska, Clifford (Arlene Hackman) Bouska and James Bouska; sisters, Margaret (Sid) Diebler, Arlene (Frank) Vrzak and Donna (Leonard) Hrdlicka; brother and sisters in-law, Don Rimrodt, Ann Hackman, Arlene (Cliff) Bouska, George Hackman, Clarabelle (Howard) Taylor, Jeanne Bouska and Rose Bouska; several neices and nephews.