Visitation: March 27 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, Denison, Iowa
Rosary: March 27 4:30 PM St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, Denison
Mass of Christian Burial: March 28 10:30 AM St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, Denison

Verta Mae Von Tersch was born September 29, 1929, in rural Gray, Iowa, the daughter of Walter and Gertrude (Schroeder) Barten. She passed away Sunday, March 24, 2019, at Holy Spirit Retirement Home in Sioux City, Iowa, at the age of eighty-nine.

Verta Mae was baptized in Christ and confirmed in the Lutheran faith in Manning, Iowa. She received her education at Lincoln No. 5 country school near her home in Audubon County, and graduated from Irwin High School, in Shelby County, with the class of 1947. On April 18, 1949, Verta Mae was united in marriage with Eugene "Tunney" Von Tersch at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Defiance, Iowa. The couple made their home on the farm south of Denison and was blessed with nine children.

There were three things in life that Verta Mae jokingly said she would never do and those were...she would never marry a Catholic or a farmer or ever have children, but those were the three things she embraced with the deepest affection. In the early years, she was employed at the Red Lantern and JoMart Steak Houses and as a hostess at Cronk's Cafe, all in Denison. She also provided counseling at the Denison Job Corps.

Music provided much pleasure for Verta Mae as she particularly enjoyed yodeling, singing in the church choir, singing and dancing. She was an excellent seamstress sewing all the clothes for her family. Verta Mae was also a good cook and enjoyed baking, especially bread and cinnamon rolls. World traveling provided many fond memories for her as she made trips to Yugoslavia, China, Italy, and the Holy Land. She also enjoyed socializing with neighborhood women. Verta Mae was a member of the Altar Society, Neighborhood Women's Society, Council for Catholic Women, and Cancer Society.

Verta Mae was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Eugene in 1977; one son, John Von Tersch; one grandson, David Von Tersch; one sister, Charleen Knudson and her husband, Kenneth; one brother, Arlo Barten; a stepbrother, Marland Mork and a step-brother-in-law Jerald Axland. Survivors include: eight children, Larry Von Tersch (Kathy) of Platte City, Missouri; Sharon Tesar (Michael) of Omaha, Nebraska; Joan Von Tersch (Bill Wege) of Council Bluffs, Iowa; one daughter-in-law, Diane Von Tersch of Glenwood, Iowa; Dale Von Tersch (Carolyn) of Denison, Iowa; Paul Von Tersch (Annette) of Wayland, Iowa; Mary Hanno (John) of Sioux City, Iowa; Gene Von Tersch (Krystal Ferguson) of Denison, Iowa; and Teresa Shook (Chad) of Salix, Iowa; twenty-nine grandchildren; thirty-four great-grandchildren; a step-stepsister-in-law, Jeanie Mork of Denison, Iowa, and step-sister, Dwanna Axland of Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Memorials may be designated to Holy Spirit Retirement Home or Trinity Heights in Sioux City, Iowa.

She will be dearly missed by her family and friends and the staff at Holy Spirit Retirement Home where she has spent the last three years.