LaVern Langel, 91 of Templeton, died Wednesday, February 18, 2026 at Addington Place in Carroll.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, February 24, 2026 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Templeton. The Celebrant will be Fr. Terry Roder. Lector for the Funeral Mass will be Ron Langel. Gift Bearers will be LaVern’s great-grandchildren. Eucharistic Minister will be Joea Kemper. Casket Bearers will be Michael Langel, Megan Langel, Matthew Langel, Scott Stevens, Will Stevens, Alex Langel, and Seth Langel. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery in Templeton with military honors conducted by the Dedham American Legion.
A visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Monday at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll with a rosary at 7 p.m. Additional visitation will be from 9:30-10:15 a.m. on Tuesday at the church. Memorials may be left at the funeral home or the church for the Dedham American Legion.
Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for LaVern’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
LaVern Henry Langel was born on July 3, 1934 in Templeton, Iowa, the son of Joseph and Mary (Bauer) Langel. He had 3 sisters and a brother. LaVern grew up on a farm near Templeton and attended Sacred Heart School in Templeton.
While helping his uncle Ted Langel, he met a young woman, Louetta who was helping her aunt Bonnie who had given birth. They saw each other at dances and started to date. LaVern was united in marriage to Louetta Hoffman on April 23, 1957 at Holy Angels Catholic Church in Roselle.
LaVern was drafted into the United States Army. Louetta followed him to Georgia and Texas until he was deployed to Germany. Louetta moved in with her parents when their first child Rick was born until LaVern returned home. They lived in Carroll where he worked as a carpenter for Steffes and Goetzinger. During that time, Jim and Joni were born.
In 1966, they moved to LaVern’s family farm and had another son Dave. They raised corn, soybeans, hogs, sheep and miniature Schnauzers.
During retirement, LaVern went to coffee every morning, played bingo, cards, and enjoyed trips to the casino. LaVern collected John Deere toy tractors. He liked to fix broken toys and would trade young children brand new modern ones for them. He loved seeing the look on their faces with their eyes wide open and he never got turned down on that trade. LaVern also enjoyed woodworking. He made a lot of clocks, furniture, and quilt stands from the walnut trees on the farm. He was proud to farm his grandfather Clem’s century farm. He enjoyed training dogs to do tricks and even trained his dog Cindy not to eat meat on Fridays like a good Catholic. LaVern was a lifelong member of Sacred Heart Church, Dedham American Legion and Templeton Knights of Columbus.
LaVern is survived by his children: Jim Langel of Newell, Joni Langel of Breda, and Dave (Allison) Langel of Coon Rapids; his daughter-in-law, Ann Langel; 7 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; his sister, Yvonne Broich of Des Moines; his brother Elmer (Imelda) Langel of Manning; his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Don Schettler of Omaha, Lorraine Hoffman of Lidderdale, Adella (John) Vogl of Adair, Alvera Rosonke of Manning, Laura Ann Danner of Carroll; as well as many nieces, nephews, and other extended relatives.
LaVern was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Louetta in 2019; his son Rick Langel; his parents-in-law, Andrew and Laura Hoffman; his sisters: Bernita (Clayton) Broich and Edna Schettler; his brothers-in-law: Edward Hoffman, Virgil Rosonke, and Dennis Danner; and a sister-in-law, Rosie Sturm; and his great-granddaughter, Ava Stevens.
