Funeral services for Verna Pingel, 94, of Cherokee, IA, formerly of Aurelia, IA, will be 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, February 22, 2011, at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Aurelia, with Pastor Larry Lemke officiating. Burial will be in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery, rural Aurelia. Visitation will be Monday from 2:00 to 8:00, with the family being present from 6:00 to 8:00 at the Redig Funeral Home in Aurelia, and one hour prior to the service at the church. Memorials may be directed to St. Paul Lutheran Church in Aurelia, the Iowa Department for the Blind or Lutheran Blind Mission.
Verna Viola Edith Roggow was born on June 1, 1916 to Edward and Ida (Klockow) Roggow at Aurelia. She was baptized on July 2, 1916 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, rural Aurelia. Verna grew up on a farm north of Aurelia. She was confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church on October 16, 1932. She attended Brooke School of Peterson, IA, and graduated in 1935. On December 5, 1935 Verna married Leonard Pingel at Immanuel Lutheran Church. They farmed north of Aurelia until 1971 when they moved to Aurelia. Verna was a member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church. She enjoyed involvement in church activities, such as Ladies Aid and teaching Sunday school, ladies clubs in Aurelia, and family activities. She worked as an aide at Sunset Knoll Retirement Home in Aurelia.
Verna died Friday, February 18, 2011, at the Villa Nursing and Rehab Center in Cherokee, where she had been a resident since March of 2005.
Preceding Verna in death were her parents, her husband Leonard Pingel on April 4, 1982, and an infant sister, Helen.
Survivors include three children, Lila and her husband Don Beck of Fort Dodge, IA, Carroll and his wife Lois Pingel of St. Charles, MO, and Lorrell and his wife Kathy Pingel of Jefferson City, MO. Also surviving are seven grandchildren, Mike and wife Karen Beck, Sheryl and husband Marty Rogers, Mark Beck, Steve Beck, Doug and wife Dana Pingel, Denise and husband Michael Scoffic, and Dora and husband Scott Hyslop, fifteen great-grandchildren, eleven great-great-grandchildren, one sister, Frances Niemeier of Cherokee, and other relatives and friends.