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Obituary for Laverne Arnold Tibben
Laverne Arnold Tibben, 87, of Stuart passed away Saturday, August 31, 2019, at the Stuart Community Care Center. Visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Tuesday, September 3, 2019, at the Johnson Family Funeral Home & Crematory-Stuart Chapel. Funeral Services will be held 10:00 A.M. Wednesday, September 4, 2019, at the Zion Lutheran Church in Dexter. Burial with military honors will be held following the service in South Oak Grove Cemetery in Stuart. Memorial contributions may be made to the Laverne Tibben Memorial Fund. Online Condolences may be left at the www.johnsonfamilyfuneralhome.com.
Laverne was born November 22, 1931, in Audubon County, Iowa to Arnold William Tibben and Evona Helen (Krause) Tibben. As a child his family moved from farm to farm where Laverne attended country schools. The family then moved east of Dexter where Laverne attended Dexter school until his sophomore year when the family moved south of Stuart. Laverne graduated from Stuart High School with the class of 1951. After graduating, Laverne enlisted in the United States Army in November of 1952 during the Korean War. Following boot camp, at Fort Riley, Kansas, he was shipped in 1953 to Korea where Laverne served as a foot soldier. He earned the rank of Corporal and was awarded the Bronze Service Star medal. Laverne was honorably discharged on August 25, 1954, and returned to Stuart.
Laverne was united in marriage to Beverly Ann Burkheimer on March 29, 1953, at the Zion Lutheran Church in Dexter, Iowa. Upon Laverne’s return from Korea in the fall of 1954 they moved to Indianola where Laverne attended Simpson College for 6 months. They then moved to Dallas Center to work on a farm. In October of 1954 they moved to Madrid where he worked as a carpenter. Laverne started farming in 1957. The family moved to their homestead east of Stuart in February of 1962 where Laverne farmed for 60 plus years. While farming he also drove the school bus for the Stuart-Menlo Schools until 1980 and worked at the Stuart Sale Barn from 1983-2010.
While living in Madrid they were blessed in December of 1955 with a baby girl, Debra Ann. The family moved around the Stuart area and during that time welcomed son, David Laverne, in November of 1957 and daughter, Glenda Rae, in April of 1961.
Laverne was a lifetime member of the Stuart American Legion. He was a past Legion Commander and served many years on the American Legion Color Guard, Sargent of Arms. He is also a lifetime member of the Zion Lutheran Church in Dexter where he was confirmed on July 14, 1946. Laverne enjoyed all sports, especially the Chicago Cubs, Iowa Hawkeyes and Chicago Bears. He loved watching his children and grandchildren in sporting and school activities. Throughout the years Laverne and Beverly enjoyed square dancing, playing cards with friends, camping and game shows.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Arnold and Evona, his beloved wife, Beverly on February 29, 2016, and one brother, Merle.
He leaves behind to cherish his memory, his children, Debra Walker (Tom) of Earlham, David Tibben (Monica) of Stuart and Glenda Tibben (Rube) of Des Moines; grandchildren, Allissa Johnson, Jessica Jones (Jeremy), John Tibben and Jared Tibben; great grandchildren, Miles Johnson, Ella Johnson, Cadence Jones and Abigail Jones; one brother, Leroy Tibben (Geneen) of Dawson; nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends all of whom will miss him greatly. (Professional Arrangements Entrusted To: Johnson Family Funeral Home & Crematory- Stuart Chapel)
