Vernida Van Meveren

Vernida Margaret Van Meveren, 82, of Wabasso, passed away on Wednesday, December 16, 2015 at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, December 21, 2015 at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Wabasso. Visitation will be from 4 – 7 pm on Sunday at the church and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday. Interment will be in the Crestlawn Cemetery, rural Redwood Falls. Online condolences may be placed at www.sunsetfuneralassociation.com. The Sunset Funeral & Cremation Association is caring for the family. Vernida Margaret Van Meveren was born September 24, 1933 to Christian and Margaretha (Ketelsen) Wanke in Montevideo, MN. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Montevideo and attended Montevideo Public Schools, graduating in 1951. As a young woman she worked as a bank teller and as office manager at a dairy, before meeting her future husband at a square dance. On August 10, 1963 Vernida married Ted “Dale” Van Meveren. They made their home in the Wabasso area, farming in the beginning, and after several moves settled into their permanent home in Wabasso in 1974. Over the years she and her husband owned and operated several businesses, including Jonver, Inc., Lucan Manufacturing, Van’s Mobile and Northwest Seafood. She served as everything from office administrator to CEO for the businesses for over fifty years. Vernida was a member of St. Matthews Lutheran Church in Wabasso and the “Granny Readers,” a group of ladies that performed for school age children and adult-care facility residents. She loved traveling, having visited over fifteen countries. Most people were surprised by her affinity for thrill rides. She rode zip lines, roller coasters, went white water rafting and hiked on glaciers right up to the end of her years. Performing arts were enjoyable to her, especially theater and music, and she was an accomplished piano player. It was important to her to always continue to learn so she attended Gold College at Southwest State University for many years. She also spent countless hours doing crafts and gardening. Vernida loved her family so deeply. There was nothing she was more proud of and family was the core of her soul. In December of 2015 Vernida lost her 16-year long battle with cancer and died at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, MN at the age of 82. Vernida is survived by her two sons, Brian (Laurel) Van Meveren or Arlington Heights, IL and Shawn (Michelle) Van Meveren of New Ulm, MN; two daughters, Marla (R.G.) Easter of Orient, IL and Luonna (John Jr.) Burns of Prior Lake, MN; one daughter-in-law, Cheryl Van Meveren of Lamberton, MN; sixteen grandchildren; one brother, Henry Wanke of Topeka, KS; one sister, Jeane (Roger) Goulson of Decorah, IA, and many friends. Her husband, Dale, son, Brett, and one sister-in-law, Martha Wanke preceded her in death.