Laverne R Garside

Laverne Robert Garside, 80 was born on March 10, 1943, fourth of five children.  Born to Arthur Robert Garside and Leona Grace Karas on the farm near Anita, Iowa. Where he and Mary still live. He graduated from Anita High School in 1961.  He then farmed with his father until 1980, and then on his own.  

He was drafted into the Army and served in the Vietnam War from 1967-1969. Where he was a E6 Sargent and was awarded the Bronze Star, a Sharpshooter Rifle M14 award. He was a lifetime member of the Anita American Legion Post 210 and VFW Post 8766 of Adair, Iowa. He felt honored to be included in the Honor Flight in 2014 to Washington DC.

Laverne and Mary Finnell were married on September 15, 1973, at the Atlantic Gospel Chapel in Atlantic, Iowa. They made their home in Anita for 25 years, then moved to the farm for 25 more years. They celebrated 50 years of marriage this year with a card shower. He loved his family and his Lord and Savior whom he accepted as a boy. He was very competitive when playing games. He always played to win!!  He loved making and eating homemade ice cream.  We made it many times.  Laverne and Mary enjoyed socializing at many businesses appreciation lunches.

He spent the last two months of his life at Caring Acres in Anita, Iowa. Passing away on November 21, 2023.   He enjoyed his time away from Caring Acres when he got to visit the farm and even rode in the combine one last time. He spent his life as a farmer and loved every minute.

Laverne was preceded in death by his parents; sister Lorraine Peterson (Roland McHugh and Lewis Peterson); brother Leonard (Eleanor) Garside; brother-in-law Vince Ehrman and niece Ann Julyn Ehrman.

Laverne will be lovingly remembered by his wife Mary, sisters Elinor Ehrman, Junellyn (Junior) Ellis; nieces and nephew, Terry (Paulette) McHugh, Rick (Linda) McHugh, Rhonda (Dan) Fauble, Tracy (Jenny) Ellis, Junann (Dwain) Holmes, Angela (Ray) Rudolph, Kirk (Susan) Garside, Scott (Michelle) Garside, Jan (Rich) Anderson, John (Naomi) Ehrman, Aunt Betty Karas many other great nieces and nephews, cousin and friends.


Funeral services will be held at 10 am, Monday, November 27, 2023, at the Schmidt Funeral Home in Atlantic, Iowa with burial with full military honors to follow at the Massena Center Cemetery near Massena. Visitation with the family present will be from 4 pm till 6 pm at the funeral home on Sunday, November 26, 2023.

Memorials can be made to either Anita Fire Department or Gospel Chapel in Atlantic and can be mailed to the funeral home at P.O. Box 523 - Atlantic, IA 50022.