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Photo of Verlyn Russell Friedow

Verlyn Russell Friedow

7/10/1922 - 6/28/2018


Obituary


Verlyn Friedow, 95 of Britt and formerly of Kanawha passed Thursday, June 28, 2018 at Westview Care Center in Britt.

Funeral services for Verlyn Friedow will be held on Monday, July 2, 2018, at 2:00 PM at the Kanawha United Methodist Church, 402 North Main Street in Kanawha, with Pastor Mark Heath officiating.

Visitation for Verlyn Friedow will be held one hour prior to services at the church on Monday.

Verlyn Russell Friedow was born July 10, 1922, on a farm one mile south of Kanawha, to Floyd and Edna (Koch) Friedow. He was baptized and confirmed in the Kanawha United Methodist Church.

When Verlyn was a small boy, the family moved to a farm northeast of Kanawha. He and his two brothers and one sister grew up there helping with farming, raising and selling purebred Poland China hogs. The family was well known across the nation for their State Fair championship hogs.

Verlyn was educated as a boy in a small country school (Erin #7) down the road from his family farm. He continued his education and graduated from Kanawha High School in 1940. As a boy, Verlyn enjoyed baseball and as a young man he played on a local fast pitch team with his brother Doyce. From a very young age, Verlyn loved the NY Yankees ball club. Throughout his life he enjoyed watching the games on television and attending Yankee games when he could. He loved sports of all kinds and was a loyal follower of the area high school teams. He especially enjoyed watching when his own children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were playing. He also loved to play golf and he taught his family members to play.

In high school, Verlyn met his first wife, June Schaefer. They were married on October 19, 1944 at the Kanawha United Methodist Church. Soon after their nuptials, Verlyn left for boot camp and then on to radar school per his enlistment in the US Navy during WWII. He was assigned as radar man second class to the USS Brookings APA 140 which served as a transport ship for the troops and equipment in the Pacific theater. After the war he continued to serve on his ship until 1946 transporting the occupation troops.

Upon his return to civilian life, Verlyn and his wife June farmed with his father and brothers, eventually moving to their own place one mile north of town. They also raised and milked Holsteins. In 1960, the couple moved to Kanawha, whereby Verlyn briefly worked in feed sales with Swift Inc. He later worked for Kanawha Coop Oil as a gas/oil tank driver until his retirement in 1987.

Verlyn and June were blessed with five children: Martha, Mark, Melissa, Mitchel, and Maureen. In March of 1979, June lost her battle with cancer, the couple were married 35 years.

On September 19, 1987, Verlyn married Blanche Harle at the Evangelical Free Church in Britt, Iowa. The couple made their home on a farm north of Kanawha, until later moving into the Summit House in Britt.

Verlyn entered the Kanawha Community Home in June of 2017 after suffering a stroke.

Verlyn was an active member of his community, his church and school, serving on boards and heading up projects. Long after his retirement he continued to serve as an active member of the KCH Care Review Board. Verlyn’s life was devoted to his family and his faith, caring for them and acting as an amazing role model as a father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend.

Verlyn was preceded in death by his wife June; his daughter Martha Brass; his parents, Floyd and Edna; step-mother Annette; his brothers, Doyce Friedow and Milton Friedow and his sister, Ardith Kelly.

Left to cherish Verlyn’s memory are his wife Blanche (Harle) Friedow of Britt; children Mark Friedow of Jefferson, Iowa, Melissa Cook of Britt, Iowa, Mitchel (Geneva) Friedow of Huxley, Iowa and Maureen (Dan) Abels of Kanawha; grandchildren Forrest (Nathan) Friedow and their son, Mansel, Justin (Lorena) Friedow and their children Ricardo, Ashley and Aiden, Olivia (Zach) Doden and their son Nathan, Derek Friedow, Alyssa (Chris) Sundell and their son Grant, and Jessica (Darryl) Abelscroft; stepchildren: Jill (Dale) Finch, Ned (Sherri) Harle, Kurt (Mary) Harle, Kent ( Jill) Harle and their families; special family friend Vickie Davis Friedow; step-grandchildren Terry Fisher, Corey (Christy) Wentworth, Adam Wentworth and Erin (Chris) Seymour; step great-grandchildren: Allen (special friend Rayne) Fisher, Alex Fisher, Christian Fisher, Kylee Fisher, Victoria Fisher, Brennan Seymour, Amelia Seymour and Lillian Seymour; sisters-in-law Beryl Friedow, Audrey (Paul) Christiansen, Charlotte (Gary) Gabrielson along with numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.