LaVerne W. Birch, 73 of Cleghorn, Iowa, passed away Wednesday, January 1, 2014 at the Cherokee Regional Medical Center.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 4th, at 10:30 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Cleghorn, Iowa. Rev. Peggy Hegeman will officiate. Burial will be in the Meriden Cemetery. There will be a family prayer service at 10:15 a.m. at the church on Saturday. Visitation will be on Friday from 1 p.m. until 8 p.m. with the family present from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee. Online condolences can be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com

LaVerne was born on December 25, 1940 at LeMars, Iowa to Stanley & Margaret (Nielsen) Birch. He graduated Meriden-Cleghorn High School in 1959. He was married to Nancy Goodrich June 16, 1962 at Cleghorn, Iowa. LaVerne managed grain elevators in Oyens, Iowa and Iowa Falls, Iowa; sold feed for Alton Premium Feeds and ADM; also farmed and raised cattle most of his life. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Cleghorn. He belonged to an investor's club, active on the First-Coop Board and Cherokee Airport Authority. He enjoyed playing cards, shooting pool, vacationing in Texas and Okoboji; spending time with his grandchildren and loved the visits with his new grandsons.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Nancy on May 9, 2007 and a brother David Birch in 1974.

He is survived by his two daughters: Lisa Johnson (Eric) of Cleghorn, Iowa; Melanie Rose (Curt Patton) of Omaha, Nebraska; four grandchildren: Allison, Caitlin and Madison Johnson; Spencer Patton; one great grandson Taye Johnson; a sister Margie Hansen of Fairfax, Iowa; also several nieces and nephews.