Leverne Mark
d. December 7, 2015
LeVerne F. Mark, 76, of Iowa City, Iowa and formerly of Bettendorf, Iowa, died on Monday, December 7, 2015 at his home in Iowa City after an extended illness.
He was born on March 4, 1939, the son of Arthur C. & Elsie (Lorenz) Mark and spent his youth on a dairy farm south of Frankfort, Illinois. Those years remained close to his heart throughout his life.
Vern was a graduate of Lincoln-Way Community High School in New Lenox, Illinois and Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois. In 1961, Vern enlisted in the Army and was stationed at the Pentagon and subsequently, the Defense Intelligence Agency in Arlington, Virginia as an intelligence clerk.
He was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart, Nancy K. Heisner on March 21, 1964 at the Frankfort United Methodist Church. Vern spent his work career in various underwriting positions with State Farm Mutual, Zurich Insurance and retired from John Deere Insurance in Moline, Illinois in May of 1999 after twenty-six years of service.
Vern’s passion for gardening and bicycling was exceeded only by his love for his family and attending family gatherings. He also enjoyed traveling, genealogy, golf and three-mile walks with Nan. In retirement, he was a volunteer at Habitat for Humanity and was active in the Quad-Cities Morning Optimist Club.
Vern is survived by his wife, Nan of fifty-one years; his daughters, Sara (Chris) Swanson of Riverside, Iowa and Jennifer (Jerrett) Ferguson of Solon, Iowa; grandsons, Sam, Nate, Eric, Travis and Justin; six great grandchildren; a sister, Mary (Roger) Barclay of DeKalb, Illinois; a sister-in-law, Jeanette Mark of Frankfort; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and a brother, Arthur.
A service to celebrate his life will be held at 10:00 A.M., Monday, December 14, 2015 at Asbury United Methodist Church in Bettendorf. Visitation will be held at the church on Sunday from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. He will be laid to rest at the Rock Island National Cemetery.
The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to Asbury United Methodist Church, the Habitat for Humanity Restore, or Iowa City Hospice.