Verl Kenneth Farnsworth's Obituary
Verl Kenneth Farnsworth, age 88, of Centerville, Iowa, died Tuesday, August 16, 2005, at Oakwood Nursing & Rehab Center in Albia, Iowa. He was born the son of the late Abraham L. Farnsworth and the late Laura (Exline) Farnsworth on July 13, 1917 in Caldwell Township, later moving to a farm south of Exline, Iowa, where he attended school and became a member of the Exline Christian Church. He graduated from Exline Community School. After high school, he worked at Waggoner Produce in both Centerville and Albia, Iowa. In October of 1939, he joined the State Guard Company G 168th Infantry, 34th Division. In February, 1941, he went to Camp Claiborne, Louisiana for rifle training, where he also took part in the Great Louisiana Maneuvers. In January, 1942, following the declaration of war, he moved to Ft. Dix, New Jersey for more training. He left for overseas duty in March, 1942 and in August, 1942, moved to Scotland for amphibious training with the British Commandos for the invasion of North Africa. At that time, he boarded a ship at Edinborough, Scotland and made the landing in Algiers in November, 1942, where they camped in an old college. On April 27, 1942, platoon leader Sgt. Farnsworth captured Hill 609 outside Bizerte, where he was shot in the head and lost a month of his life. He awoke on May 26, 1942. No relatives knew of his whereabouts until a day after he regained consciousness on May 25, 1942. He spent several months in the hospital in Algiers and on the Mediterranean Coast, returning to the States on July 4, 1943, where he recovered and was Honorably Discharged. During his Service, he was awarded several medals, among them the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Middle East Campaign Medal with two stars and an arrowhead and twenty-one other medals. After recuperation he returned home and was employed by Harris Insurance Agency and later elected County Auditor for 20 years. Along with the many memories of Company G 34th Division, he was a member of the Elks Club, life member of the VFW, the Amvets and the DAV. He married Donna Kathleen Wilson of Numa, Iowa on May 5, 1951 at Centerville, Iowa. She was the daughter of Walter and Zella Wilson. They had two daughters, Laura Lee Jensen of Centerville, Iowa, and Kathleen Anne Cubit of Des Moines, Iowa. He was preceded in death by: his parents; two sisters, Felva Farnsworth; Vernice Hamm and her husband, Olin, all of Centerville, Iowa; also a nephew, Kenneth Hamm, of Republic, Missouri. Verl is survived by: his wife, Donna K. Farnsworth; daughters Laura Lee Jensen of Centerville, Iowa; Kathleen Ann Cubit and her husband, Monte, of Des Moines, Iowa; granddaughter April Joens of Des Moines, Iowa; two step-grandsons, Dan and Joe Cubit, of Albia, Iowa; great-grandson David Anthony and great-granddaughter, Sofia Rose, both of Des Moines, Iowa; and one nephew, Gene Hamm, of Centerville, Iowa. Funeral services will be held on Friday, August 19, 2005, at 10:00 A.M. at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home, Centerville, Iowa, with Pastor Kay Singley officiating. Burial will follow at the Livingston Cemetery, Numa, Iowa. Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 18, 2005 from 2:30 P.M. to 8:30 P.M., where the family will receive friends from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Memorials have been established to the Livingston Cemetery or Exline Christian Church and may be left at or mailed to the To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Verl Kenneth Farnsworth please visit our Sympathy Store.
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