LaVerne Olmstead

LaVerne Andrew Olmstead was born on July 12, 1939 near Dow City, Iowa to Alva and Eleanor (Bauer) Olmstead. He grew up in the Dow City and Dunlap areas and graduated from Dunlap High School. LaVerne served in the United States Army Airborne from 1963 to 1966. He moved to California and worked for Sherwin Williams and Colgate. In 1977 he moved back to Dunlap and purchased the Dunlap Dairy Sweet and then the Dow City and Manning Dairy Sweets. Later on he became a mail carrier in the Dunlap Post Office. In the past number of years LaVerne divided his time living in Alaska and Dunlap. He really enjoyed his time spent in Alaska.

LaVerne enjoyed fishing, hunting and gardening. He also raised Greyhound dogs and his dog won the 1992 $150,000 Iowa Breeders Classic at Bluffs Run.

LaVerne died Monday, September 14, 2015, at Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs at the age of 76 years, two months and two days.

LaVerne was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Earl, Richard and Larry Olmstead; and two sisters, Maxine Olmstead and Esther Anderson. He is survived by his two sons, Trent Olmstead and his wife Donna of Janesville, Iowa and Mike Olmstead and his wife Tina of Dunlap, Iowa; four grandchildren, John (Ashlee) Olmstead of Audubon, Iowa; Cody (Skylar) Olmstead of Dunlap, Iowa, Andrew Olmstead and Sarah Olmstead both of Janesville, Iowa; great grandson, Parker Olmstead of Audubon, Iowa; special friend, Phyllis Fouts of Dunlap, Iowa; brother, Mick Olmstead and his wife Mary Pat of Dunlap, Iowa; sister, Diane Olmstead of Garland, Texas and many other relatives and friends.