Verna Ahrens

Verna J. Ahrens, 98, passed away peacefully on August 15, 2019, in Copperas Cove, Texas.

Verna was born on June 2, 1921, in New London, Minnesota, to Axel and Ella Mattson Swanson. She grew up on a farm in Iowa with her family and attended public school in Manchester, Iowa. Verna married Lyle Ahrens and moved to Edinburg, Texas, shortly before World War II. In Edinburg, Verna and Lyle lived and worked on the Ahrens’ family dairy farm. The farm is where the couple would raise their children, Shirley, Karen, and Loren. Verna enjoyed reading, sewing, gardening, and playing the Hawaiian steel guitar.

She is preceded in death by her parents and siblings.

Verna is survived by her daughters, Shirley Ahrens, Karen Schonefeld and husband, Bernard; son, Loren Ahrens and wife, Deborah; grandchildren, Holly Johnson, Stacey Richardson and husband, Jacob, Brian Schonefeld and wife, Courtney, Scott Schonefeld and wife, Paige, Christopher Ahrens and wife, Kimberley; great-grandchildren, Caiden Johnson, Gabriel Richardson, Carrie Schonefeld, Briana Richardson, Heidi Johnson, Joanna Schonefeld, Katherine Ahrens, Silas Schonefeld, Camden Ahrens.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org.