Vern M. Ball

BLOOMFIELD: Vern Martin Ball, 75, of Bloomfield, Iowa died June 22, 2012 at Colonial Manor in Columbus Junction. He was born December 14, 1936 in Ackworth, Iowa to Howard Foster and Edith Marie Knouse Ball. He married Helen Marie Jones July 21, 1957 in Hedrick, Iowa. She preceded him in death March 28, 2005. Vern was a graduate of Simpson College in Indianola, and Drake Law School. He began practicing law in Bloomfield in 1962 and was the Davis County Attorney for several years. He was a member of the Bloomfield United Methodist Church and a 50-year member of the Iowa State Bar Association. He was a scout leader and led several canoe trips over the years with the scouts to the Boundary Waters of Minnesota. Vern was an avid sportsman and tennis player, and enjoyed traveling and flying his plane. Vern completed the RAGBRAI bicycle ride many times, most recently in 2010. He is survived by a son, Duke (Brenda) Ball of Drakesville, Iowa; three daughters, Dana (Dale) Howell of Columbus Junction, Iowa, Deniese (David Hall) Ball of Sydney, Australia, Dee Gethmann of Ankeny, Iowa; a fiancée, Bonnie Birchmier of Bloomfield; 12 grandchildren – Casey (Jamie) McCarty; Shelby (David) Kurnes; Dustin, Delaney and Dalton Howell; Malcolm, Michaela, Morgan and Meredith Hall; Blake, Brody and Brooke Gethmann; three great-grandchildren – Cooper and Cason McCarty and Tyson Kurnes; four brothers, Lynn (Deborah) Ball of San Diego, California, Lyle (Trudy) Ball of Drakesville, John (Rosemary) Ball of Jonesboro, Arkansas, Gene (Marge) Webb of Kaw City, Oklahoma; a sister, Kathleen (Max) Whitmore of Plattsmouth, Nebraska; sister-in-law Virginia Biafore of Ocean City, Maryland; and two brothers-in-law, Gary (Shirley) Jones of Ottumwa, Iowa, Allen (LuAnn) Jones of Batavia, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; an infant daughter, Debbie Diane Ball; and a brother, Vaughn Ball. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 5, 2012 at the Bloomfield United Methodist Church with Pastor Kevin Gingerich officiating. Burial with committal service will be at the Brooks Cemetery in Hedrick, Iowa at 3:00 p.m. the same day. Visitation will begin after 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 4 with the family present to greet friends from 2:00-4:00 p.m. at the Wagler Funeral Home in Bloomfield. Memorials have been established to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Vern M. Ball

June 25, 2012