Verl A. Rothe, 87, of Griswold, IA, formerly of the Cumberland and Grant, IA area, died Saturday, May 28, 2011, at the Cass County Hospice Center in Atlantic, IA, where he had been a patient for the last two weeks.

Verl Andrew Rothe was born July 6, 1923 on the family farm in Noble Twp., Cass County, IA between the towns of Cumberland and Grant, the son of William Andrew and Helen Susanna (Pitz) Rothe. He attended rural schools and lived with his parents and worked the farm. He also did carpenter work and erected SUKUP grain bins for many years. On January 5, 1967, he married Edna Ethel Armstrong Hensley at the home of Edna's daughter Sharon at rural Cumberland. Edna died March 10, 2000 and Verl continued to live on the farm until August 2010 when he made his home in Griswold with Sharon.

Survivors include his son Burdell (Charlotte) Hensley of Oskaloosa, IA, his daughter Sharon Boos of Griswold, and also considered a son Ed (Helene) Rothe of Fontanelle, IA, who lived for a time with him and Edna; and 8 grandchildren and 17great-grandchildren. They are Lori (Curt) Lunsford and children Logan and Emily of Oskaloosa, Rob (Alysia) Hensley and children Alec, Christopher and Beatrice of Ottumwa, IA, Rick (Lavonda) Hensley and children Austin, Taylor, Timothy, Lila, and Joey of Roland OK, Patti (Jeff) Amos and daughters Kayleen, Maggi, Kasi and Marie of Griswold, and Kati (Troy) Williams and children Kelsey and Tate of Millard, NE; honorary grandchildren: Heather Rothe and Michelle Rothe and her daughter Kayci all of Fontanelle and Andrew Rothe of Creston, IA. Also surviving are his sisters Idella Hogan of Marion, IA and Doris Landon of Plattsmouth, NE and his brother Dale (Judy) Rothe of Forsyth, MO and his sister-in-law Helen Rothe of Council Bluffs, IA as well as many nieces and nephews whom he affectionally called "George".

Preceding Verl in death were his parents, his wife Edna, three grandchildren Michelle Hensley, Mitchell Boos and Sara Rothe and his brothers Willard, Elmer and Lynn Rothe and his sisters Jane Stahl and Alice Kuhns.

Funeral services will be held at the Central Church of Christ in Griswold on Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 11:00 AM. Burial will be in the Griswold Cemetery. Open visitation will be at the Duhn Funeral Home in Griswold and the family will be present from 5:00 to 7:00 Monday evening.