The family of Verna L. Haggstrom would like to thankfully acknowledge the expressions of sympathy after her death on Aug. 19, 2008. The youngest of Margaret and George Lesser''s 10 children, she was born on March 13, 1921 in Pierce County ,Nebraska.
Verna was raised in Nebraska and on November 11, 1941 she was married in Norfolk, Nebraska to the love of her life, Ernest. Occupational opportunity and retirement took them to Iowa, Illinois, Florida and Alabama before they were separated by his death on May 9, 1996. In addition to being a dedicated homemaker, she was active in Eastern Star and the United Methodist Church. Her last residence was Peoria, Illinois where she stayed busy keeping up with her active and wide-spread family.
Verna is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Jodine and Patrick Cassady of Peoria, Ill. and her son and daughter-in-law, Dr Gerard and Sarah Haggstrom of Florence, Ala.. She has four granddaughters: Stacey Cassady of Peoria, Heather Cassady of St. Louis, Sarah Berra and her husband Chuck of St. Louis, and Eleanor Christiansen and her husband Rev. Tyler of Minneapolis, Mn. Her grandson is Dr. Daniel and Maureen Haggstrom of Lexington, Ky. Verna also has three great-granddaughters, Kennedy Berra of St. Louis, Mo, Margaret Christiansen of Minneapolis, Mn, and Evelyn Haggstrom of Lexington, Ky; and two great grandsons, Gabriel Munoz Cassady of Peoria and Carter Berra of St. Louis, Mo.
A memorial celebration was held on August 19th in Peoria and an 11 am graveside service will be held on September 6th at Greenview Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to The Building Fund of the First Methodist Church in Florence.
Elkins Funeral Home is assisting the family.