GARNER - Velma L. Lau, 84, of Garner died Saturday, January 21, 2012 at Mercy Hospice in Johnston, Iowa.

Memorial services will be held 1:30 P.M., Tuesday, January 24th at the Madrid Home Chapel in Madrid, Iowa with Rev. Carla Werre officiating. A graveside service will be held Thursday, January 26th at Ell Township Cemetery in Klemme with Rev. Brian Lund of Zion Evangelical and Reformed Church officiating.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 P.M., Wednesday at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel, 160 E. 4th St., in Garner.

Velma Lorene (Larsen) Lau was born August 22, 1927 to Martin and Minnie (Jennings) Larsen on the Larsen farm west of Titonka. Velma attended grades 1-8 in Portland Township #1 rural school and high school at Buffalo Consolidated in Titonka. She graduated from Waldorf College and later attended summer classes at Mankato State College and Iowa University. She taught elementary grades at Lakota, Burt, Garner, and Clear Lake. On June 4, 1958 she was married to Verner Lau of Klemme at the Titonka Methodist Church. Verner and Velma had two daughters: Barbara Jean (Lau) Burket and Debra Sue (Lau) Dunn. The couple engaged in farming in Avery Township near Klemme until retiring to Garner in June of 1988. Verner and Velma were very involved in activities in their church, the Klemme United Church of Christ. The couple enjoyed each other's company very much and could be found together doing everything from housework to traveling. In 2002 they moved to Prairie View Apartments in Garner. Velma later moved to Madrid Home Apartments in 2006. In January of 2011, she became a resident of the Madrid Home nursing center.

Velma is survived by her two daughters, Barb (Greg) Burket of Minburn and Deb (Jess) Dunn of Grimes; three grandchildren, Mikaela Dunn, Blake Dunn and Heidi Burket who have brought much joy to her.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Verner in 2004; her parents; three brothers, Vernon, Glenn, and Lewis Larsen; and one sister, Elsie Moore.


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