Verlyne Westphal

Verlyne Otis Westphal , the son of Otis Alfred and Mildred Axline (Roberts) Westphal, was born August 1, 1929 on a farm in Adams county Iowa. Verlyne entered eternal rest on July 25, 2015 at his home in Corning, Iowa at the age of 85 years, 11 months, and 24 days.
Verlyne began his primary education at the Quincy Independent School. He was a member of the Quincy Laddies Boys 4-H Club, and a member of F.F.A. in High School. His main projects were market beef and breeding heifers. Verlyne exhibited his livestock at County Fairs, State Fair, the Inter-State Show at St. Joseph, Missouri, and at Ak-Sar-Ben at Omaha, Nebraska. He graduated from Corning High School with the class of 1947. He attended Iowa State University majoring in Animal Science prior to working at the Raymond Moore Implement Firm.
Verlyne served his country in the United States Army from 1951 to 1953 during the Korean conflict. He spent 18 months in France and also received training at the Military Police School in Oberammergau, Germany. Upon release from the service, Verlyne began farming in the wet spring of 1953 on a farm adjacent to his father’s farm. He would move to a farm in Mercer township in 1954. Verlyne’s farming consisted primarily of raising corn, soybeans, cattle, and farrow to finish swine production. It was during this time he met his future wife Leona Elizabeth VonDielingen at a square dance in Clarinda, Iowa. Verlyne and Leona were married at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Clarinda, Iowa, on Feb. 6, 1955. Six children: Linda, Deborah, Diane, Loretta, Randy, and Melanie would bless this union. His family was very important to him and he enjoyed spending time with them. Verlyne and Leona moved to Corning in 1976. During this time Verlyne became a licensed Real Estate Agent and Broker and he formed his own firm.
Verlyne was very active in community organizations. He was member of Corning Rotary, Farm Bureau, and Happy Hollow County Club. Verlyne loved golf and could be found there often enjoying this sport. He enjoyed his morning coffee breaks at Kaye’s Kafé and he spent many hours helping with congregate meals at the Corning meal site. He was a member of the Corning Redeemer Lutheran Church and he served the church in many capacities. Verlyne was also a member of the Adams County Republicans, where he once served as the treasurer.
Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife Leona of Corning; children: Linda (husband Rex Jr.) Eberly, Corning, Iowa, Deborah (husband Mike) Olive, Corning, Iowa, Diane McCarthy, Ames, Iowa, Loretta (husband Tim) Gray, Nodaway, Iowa, Randy (wife Traci) Westphal, Corning, Iowa, and Melanie Grigsby, Biloxi, Mississippi; 15 grandchildren; 18 great grandchildren with 2 more expected; sister; Averyle (husband Roy) Ehrle of Des Moines, Iowa; sister-in-law; Lucille (husband John) Bengtson of Essex, Iowa; and extended family member Esther Smart; and many other relatives and friends.
Preceding Verlyne in death were his parents; brothers-in-law: Elmer VonDielingen and Emmett VonDielingen and sister-in-law: Lois Steeve