LaVerne R. Michaels, 80, of St. Ansgar, Iowa, died Sunday
(Jan. 25, 2004) at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa in Mason City.

Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the First Lutheran
Church in St. Ansgar with the Rev. Robert Porisch officiating. Burial
will be in the First Lutheran Cemetery in St. Ansgar. Military honors
will be by the Walter T. Enneberg Post No. 358 of the American Legion
of St. Ansgar.

LaVerne R. "Mike" Michaels was born on Oct. 9, 1923, in Worth County, Iowa,
the son of Benjamin and Isabel (Halverson) Michaels.

Following the death of his mother when he was 5, he lived with and was
raised by his foster parents who were his aunt and uncle, Sever and
Lizzie Halverson.

He was baptized and confirmed at First Lutheran Church. He graduated
from St. Ansgar High School in 1941.

On Jan.16, 1943, he entered the military service and proudly served his
country in World War II as a medic, serving in the European Theater of
Operation. He participated in the Normandy Invasion, and the Battle of
the Bulge, for which he received two bronze stars as well as the Good
Conduct Medal. In June of 1997 he received a gold medal from the French
government for his participation in the Liberation.

Following his honorable discharge on Nov. 8, 1945, he enrolled in and
graduated from Hamilton College. He was employed in the office of the
REA in St. Ansgar as head bookkeeper and office manager for seven years.

He married Verva Chehock on Oct. 22, 1947, at the United Methodist Church
in Plymouth, and they made their home in St. Ansgar.

In February 1954, he became employed by the St. Ansgar State Bank and
continued there for 35 years, retiring in 1989 as senior vice president.

He was a life-long member of First Lutheran Church, taught Sunday School,
was Sunday School superintendant, and chairman of the congregation.

His service to the community included treasurer for the Boy Scouts, secretary
of St. Ansgar Athletics, secretary of St. Ansgar School Board, secretary-
treasurer of Advisory Board of Good Samaritan Center, nine years on Library
Board including serving as president, 10 years on City Council, and six
years as mayor.

He was a 57-year member of American Legion, was Post Commander and served
on the firing squad and honor guard.

He was preceded in death by his mother, foster parents and siblings, Gladys
Nelson, Stanford Halverson, and Dorothy Stoll.

He is survived by his wife, Verva of St. Ansgar; one daughter, Suzanne
(Dean) Shoars of Waverly, two sons, Steven (Mary Jane) Michaels of
St. Ansgar, and Mark Michaels of St. Ansgar; five grandchildren, Jason
(Jennifer) Shoars of Asheville, North Carolina, Ryan Shoars of Clearwater,
Florida, Brendan Shoars of Lubbock, Texas, Lindsey and Laura Michaels of
Iowa City; one great-grandson, Jackson Shoars of Asheville, North Carolina;
and a foster brother, Gerald Halverson of St. Ansgar.