Verna Mae Schmidt Parham age 90, died Saturday, January 8, 2022, at St. Luke's Hospital, Cedar Rapids after a brief illness.

UPDATE: A Remembrance Service will be held 1:00 Saturday afternoon, April 9, 2022 at the St. Paul Lutheran Church, Anamosa with private family interment in the Wyoming Cemetery. Friends may call after 12 noon at the church.

Verna Mae Westphal was born September 30, 1931, at Anamosa.   She was the daughter of August and Minna Martensen Westphal.  She was a graduate of Olin High School.  Verna married Richard Schmidt on April 25, 1950, at the Zion Lutheran Church, Wyoming, Iowa.   The couple farmed for 5 years near Center Junction before moving to Anamosa.   Verna went to work for Collins Radio where she retired after 31 years in 1987.   Richard preceded her in death in 2001.

Verna married John Parham Sr. in 2006 and he preceded her in death in 2014.

Verna was an active member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Anamosa.  In retirement she was a volunteer at the Anamosa Community Hospital, and other local groups.   She received the Governors Volunteer Award in 2009. Verna enjoyed gardening, traveling, sports events with her children and grandchildren.  And she loved being with her family.  For the past couple of years, Verna has lived at the Anamosa Care Center in Anamosa, IA.

Verna is survived by her son Mike (Kathy) Schmidt of Springville, Ia., her son-in-law, Ken Sickels of Marion, IA, her grandchildren, Joshua (Cheri) Schmidt of Springville, IA., Nicole (Kristian) Randstrom of Fort Collins, CO., Lindsay (Andre) Kravtsova of Ukraine, Jamie (Joe) Lampe of Iowa City, IA. and 14 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, 2 husbands, her daughter Deb Sickels in 2016, 2 grandsons, Eric Sickels and Jay Schmidt, a brother Donald Westphal and 2 sisters, Idalene Huston  and Doris Antons.

Goettsch Funeral, Anamosa has taken Verna and her family into their care.  By visiting Goettschonline.com you may share your thoughts, memories and condolences with Verna's family and sign the online guest book.  Memorials may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church or Camp Courageous in lieu of flowers.