Carl F. (Riepe) Laverty, 83, of Griswold, IA, died Thursday, December 9, 2010 at the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital in Red Oak, IA.

Carl Fred Riepe was born near Carson, IA in Pottawattamie County on January 26, 1927 the son of Theodore and Olive A. (Babb) Riepe. Carl graduated from Carson High School in 1945 and entered the U.S. Army during WWII. Carl's mother later married Fred Laverty and he adopted Carl and Carl took his last name. While in the service, Carl was part of the occupation forces in Berlin, Germany where he met Ruth F. Motzek and they were secretly married on September 6, 1946 in Berlin. Carl was sent home during the spring of 1947 and Honorably discharged and Ruth joined him in the United States in April. They restated their marriage vows in Oakland, IA, on April 26, 1947. They lived with Carl's parents and Carl worked for farmers by the day. In the early 50's, they started farming on their own on a farm near Minden, IA, and in 1961 moved to the Griswold area and continued to farm. Carl retired from farming in 1986 and started Laverty Sanitation Services, which he later sold to his grandson Brandon. Carl and Ruth moved to Griswold in 1989 and Ruth died June 23, 1998. On December 10, 1999 Carl married Donna Lee Perdue Merritt at Carl's home in Griswold.

Carl was a member of Griswold American Legion Post #508, Central Church of Christ, former member of the Farm Bureau and a longtime member of the Griswold (NVRA) Golf Course. Carl loved farming, both grain and livestock and in his retirement, made daily trips to the farm. He enjoyed golfing, especially on Mondays with his "Wobbly" friends.

His parents and his wife Ruth preceded Carl in death.

Survivors include his wife Donna of Griswold, his son Mike Laverty and wife Karen of Lewis, his three daughters, Carol Schroeder and husband Steven of Sidney, IA; Carleene Paine of Omaha and Christine King of Omaha. Carl's grandchildren and great-grandchildren are: Wendy Cross (Troy) and children Kendra and Kalee of Council Bluffs, IA; Brandon Laverty (Abby) and children Reese and Dain of Lewis; Greg Schroeder (Tracy) and children Kalista and Gillian of Sidney; Corey Schroeder (Jackie) and children Chasidy, Randi an Rylee of Omaha; Erin Schroeder Smith (Shannon) and children Tanner, Wyatt and Lindze of Tabor, IA; Seth Petersen (Holly) and children Zachary and Samantha of Omaha; Molly Petersen of Washington D.C.; Rebecca Petersen of Omaha and Brenna King of Omaha. Carl's stepchildren are Renee Jones of Atlantic, Sherri Merritt of Brandon, OR and Kevin Merritt (Laura) and son Joshua of Glenwood Springs, CO. Also surviving are his sisters Phyllis Mundorf of Battle Creek, IA and Wanda Hess of Rockport, Texas, and his brothers Paul Laverty of Lemoyne, NE and Curtis Laverty of Battle Creek, IA.



Private family committal services with Military Honors will be held at the Flint Cemetery west of Griswold on Monday for the immediate family. This will be followed by a luncheon and visitation for family and friends at the Central Church of Christ beginning at 11:30 AM Monday. A memorial fund has been established. Duhn Funeral Home in Griswold is assisting the family with the arrangements.