Luverne O. Zilge

Luverne Vern Otto Zilge, 85, of 2160 West State Street, died Monday, December 1, 2008 at Mercy Medical Center North Iowa. Funeral services will be held 10:30 AM Friday at Trinity Lutheran Church, 213 N. Pennsylvania Avenue with Pastor Kathy Graves officiating. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Full military rites will be conducted by the Mason City Veterans Memorial Association. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 PM Thursday at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue and continue Friday at the church one hour before services. A Masonic service will be held 7:00 PM Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials may be given to Trinity Lutheran Church or the Mason City Exchange Club. Vern was born June 27, 1923 in Elk River, Minnesota the son of Otto and Alma (Duenow) Zilge. He graduated from Anoka High School, attended the University of Minnesota and graduated from the Minnesota School of Business. Vern served in the US Army during WW II from February of 1943 to September of 1945 receiving a purple heart. Following the service, Vern moved to Minneapolis. He married LaVerne Lindgren May 29, 1946. Vern worked for the Maytag Company for 20 years in Minneapolis before moving to Mason City in 1968. Vern and LaVerne opened and operated Zilges Appliance Center and continued to operate their store until they retired in 1990. Vern was a loving husband and father. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and had a passion for gardening. Vern was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church where he ushered for 38 years and served on various church boards. Vern was a lifetime member of the VFW, a member of Harding Masonic Lodge #649 A.F. & A.M., Hi Twelve, Mason City Exchange Club, and the Mens Garden Club.

Vern is survived by his wife of 62 years, LaVerne of Mason City; children, Susan (Steven) Wittwer of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Larry (Kathy) Zilge of Mason City and Janet (Tom) Burnett of Mason City; grandchildren, Paul (Ashley) Schutz, Kris (Sara) Zilge, Ryan (Jannah) Wittwer, Tina Zilge, and Dillon Burnett; 3 great grandchildren; sisters and brothers-in-law, Rosie (John) Kucheska) and Marlys (Don) Hunter; brother-in-law, Roy (Terry) Lindgren

Vern was preceded in death by his parents and 1 sister.