- Born on: March 6, 1923
- Departed on: July 3, 2016
- Resided in: Allison, IA
Vern Reiher
Vern H. Reiher, 93, of Allison died of natural causes, Sunday, July 3, 2016 at his home in rural Allison. A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, July 9 at 11:00 at the Allison Congregational Church, Allison, Iowa. The family will greet friends on Friday evening, July 8, in the church parlors from 5-8 p.m.
His family includes daughter, Mari Cramer (Kent) of Hampton, sons, Mark (Brenda) of New Hartford, Todd (Cheryl) of Shell Rock and John(Brenda) of Grimes; Twelve grandchildren, Jess Miller, Joshua Miller, Clay Miller, Andrea Reiher Odom, Adam Reiher, Katarina Reiher, Michael Reiher, Samuel Reiher, Alexandra Reiher, Elizabeth Reiher, William Reiher and Catherine Reiher, three step-grandchildren, Shannon Cramer Leist, Jodi Cramer Turner and Melissa Cramer Tuttle, seven great-grandchildren and nine step-great grandchildren; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Marlys and J.B. Mc Aninch of Cedar Falls.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Marilee, parents Reiner and Maria, his sisters, Theresa Kruse, Helen VanRaden, Esther Keifer and his brother Roy Reiher; one great grandson, Aiden Miller.
Vern was born on March 6, 1923 in West Point Township, Butler County, Iowa to Reiner H. and Maria Aukes Reiher. He attended Ripley#3, West Point and Fairview rural schools through the 8th grade and graduated from Allison High School in 1940. Vern played baseball as a left fielder in high school and was a life-long St. Louis Cardinal fan.
He married Marilee Blume in Sumner on October 1, 1950. They had four children.
Vern farmed with his parents from 1940-1947 in Jefferson Township. His father had a massive heart attack and was unable to work the farm. Vern reported for intake into the military but later received a deferment to stay home and work the farm due to his father's poor health.
In 1948 he started doing local trucking with his father's old 1939 straight truck for which he paid his mother $25 a week. In 1949 he bought a new Chevy truck. He began hauling fertilizer from Prairie du Chien and Des Moines for the Farm Service Company. He also hauled cattle to Prairie du Chien for Oscar Meyer. Vern and his brother Roy bought their first semi in 1950 and formed Reiher Truck Line. They purchased more trucks and started hauling hogs to Madison, WI, and Waterloo to various area packing houses. They had two refrigerated trucks and hauled frozen poultry and eggs to West Virginia and New York. Vern and Roy had a fleet of semis and six drivers. They also hauled horses to Windsor, Ontario from the Waverly horse sale, took cattle to Texas and brought back watermelon and potatoes.
Vern and Roy started the Purina Feed Business in the 1950's and built Farmers Feed and Grain in 1962. Vern sold Farm Bureau Insurance from 1961-1962.
Vern and Marilee bought the farm where they lived in 1960. Vern started farming in 1963 and retired from farming in 1980. He sold seed for Garst and Stine retiring in 1993.
Vern started the band the Country Marshals in 1970 which included his sons, Mark and John at different times. They played at wedding dances, anniversaries and numerous area watering holes including the Surf Ballroom, Riviera in Janesville, Chip's Ballroom in Lawler, the Moose Lodge in Charles City, Waverly Amvets, Sonny's in Greene and the Claypipe Inn in Doughtery. They retired the band in 1987.
Vern and Marilee enjoyed traveling to Alaska, Hawaii, and New England in the fall, San Diego, Seattle, Washington, D.C. and California.
Vern was a long time member of the Allison Congregational Church and a former Allison City Councilman.
Memorials may be sent in his name to the Shriners Hospitals for Children or to the family to be distributed.
His family includes daughter, Mari Cramer (Kent) of Hampton, sons, Mark (Brenda) of New Hartford, Todd (Cheryl) of Shell Rock and John(Brenda) of Grimes; Twelve grandchildren, Jess Miller, Joshua Miller, Clay Miller, Andrea Reiher Odom, Adam Reiher, Katarina Reiher, Michael Reiher, Samuel Reiher, Alexandra Reiher, Elizabeth Reiher, William Reiher and Catherine Reiher, three step-grandchildren, Shannon Cramer Leist, Jodi Cramer Turner and Melissa Cramer Tuttle, seven great-grandchildren and nine step-great grandchildren; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Marlys and J.B. Mc Aninch of Cedar Falls.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Marilee, parents Reiner and Maria, his sisters, Theresa Kruse, Helen VanRaden, Esther Keifer and his brother Roy Reiher; one great grandson, Aiden Miller.
Vern was born on March 6, 1923 in West Point Township, Butler County, Iowa to Reiner H. and Maria Aukes Reiher. He attended Ripley#3, West Point and Fairview rural schools through the 8th grade and graduated from Allison High School in 1940. Vern played baseball as a left fielder in high school and was a life-long St. Louis Cardinal fan.
He married Marilee Blume in Sumner on October 1, 1950. They had four children.
Vern farmed with his parents from 1940-1947 in Jefferson Township. His father had a massive heart attack and was unable to work the farm. Vern reported for intake into the military but later received a deferment to stay home and work the farm due to his father's poor health.
In 1948 he started doing local trucking with his father's old 1939 straight truck for which he paid his mother $25 a week. In 1949 he bought a new Chevy truck. He began hauling fertilizer from Prairie du Chien and Des Moines for the Farm Service Company. He also hauled cattle to Prairie du Chien for Oscar Meyer. Vern and his brother Roy bought their first semi in 1950 and formed Reiher Truck Line. They purchased more trucks and started hauling hogs to Madison, WI, and Waterloo to various area packing houses. They had two refrigerated trucks and hauled frozen poultry and eggs to West Virginia and New York. Vern and Roy had a fleet of semis and six drivers. They also hauled horses to Windsor, Ontario from the Waverly horse sale, took cattle to Texas and brought back watermelon and potatoes.
Vern and Roy started the Purina Feed Business in the 1950's and built Farmers Feed and Grain in 1962. Vern sold Farm Bureau Insurance from 1961-1962.
Vern and Marilee bought the farm where they lived in 1960. Vern started farming in 1963 and retired from farming in 1980. He sold seed for Garst and Stine retiring in 1993.
Vern started the band the Country Marshals in 1970 which included his sons, Mark and John at different times. They played at wedding dances, anniversaries and numerous area watering holes including the Surf Ballroom, Riviera in Janesville, Chip's Ballroom in Lawler, the Moose Lodge in Charles City, Waverly Amvets, Sonny's in Greene and the Claypipe Inn in Doughtery. They retired the band in 1987.
Vern and Marilee enjoyed traveling to Alaska, Hawaii, and New England in the fall, San Diego, Seattle, Washington, D.C. and California.
Vern was a long time member of the Allison Congregational Church and a former Allison City Councilman.
Memorials may be sent in his name to the Shriners Hospitals for Children or to the family to be distributed.
