Vern Lafrenz

***The service recording is posted below the obituary.***

Vern Lafrenz, 86, of Atlantic, Iowa, joined Joan in their Heavenly home, Sunday, April 27, 2025, at Heritage House in Atlantic.

Vernon Carl was born on January 24, 1939, in Davenport, Iowa, the son of Carl Jacob and Mildred Amelia (Arp) Lafrenz. He graduated from Davenport High School in 1957 and shortly after, took a job with Northwestern Bell Telephone Company installing rotary phones throughout Iowa. This is when he met Joan Ray.

Vern and Joan were united in marriage on July 15, 1961, in Elk Horn, Iowa. The couple made their home south of Atlantic, at which time Vern returned to his childhood roots of farming when he started working for Paul Nichols. Through the years Vern grew his own farm operation; Joan working alongside him any chance she could in the fields, working the Black Angus cattle or doing the milking. When you saw Vern you saw Joan, when you saw Joan you saw Vern; they were a wonderful team! The couple also worked at First Whitney Bank, Joan doing cleaning and Vern was their courier for over 20 years. They treasured the relationships they built with the employees, who were really more like family.

He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church. Vern acquired many antique tractors through the years. He had a good sense of humor and was always willing to lend a helping hand.

Vernon is survived by sisters, Arlene Rhoades, Vanita Barnet and Loretta Wuerdeman all of Davenport, IA; sister-in-law, Sharon (Ray) Curran of Prescott, AZ; numerous nieces and nephews; and great and great-great nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Joan; brothers-in-law, Ken Rhoades, Tom Barnet, Arnold Wuerdeman, Lee Drumm, Willard Uitermarkt Harold “Shorty” (Shirley) Ray and Gary Ray; sisters-in-law, Cleo (Paul) Steffen and Dorothy (Burnell) Wheeler; and nieces and nephews, Richard "Butch" Wheeler, Doug Ray, Debbie Ray and Craig Steffen.

Visitation with the family present will be held from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Thursday, May 1st at Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, May 2nd at Zion Lutheran Church in Atlantic. Immediately following the service, you are invited to lunch in the fellowship hall.

Burial, with military honors, will be held at 2:00 p.m. at the Evergreen Cemetery in Red Oak, Iowa.

The service and burial will be recorded and available on the funeral home website by noon on Saturday.

Memorials may be directed to Zion Lutheran Church in Atlantic.

Roland Funeral Service is caring for Vern’s family and his arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.