Laverne Daters

LaVerne Fat Daters, 78, lifelong State Center resident and farmer known for his humor and smile, died Friday, November 30th, at the Iowa River Hospice Home in Marshalltown surrounded by his loving family.A funeral mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, December 6, at St. Josephs Catholic Church in State Center with Fr. Tom Braak and Fr. Rick Dagit as celebrants. He will be laid to rest with full military honors by the Harlan G. Pfantz American Legion Post #122 in the St. Joseph Cemetery at State Center. Visitation will be held from 4-7:00 p.m. Wednesday at the church with a 7:00 p.m. vigil service. For condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com. Ph. 641-844-1234. The Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Fat and his family.Born on June 16th, 1934, at home near State Center, Iowa, he was one of seven children born to Charles and Rosina (Neuroth) Daters. LaVerne- born at nearly 10 pounds- soon had the nickname of Fat. It carried with him all of his life.He graduated from the State Center High Schools Class of 1952. While in high school, Fat was the pride of his hometown in sports- he played football and basketball but starred in baseball. He came to Marshalltown from 1953 to 1955 to play for the Marshalltown Ansons semi-pro baseball team as catcher.Fat served our country honorably in the United States Army from 1956 to 1958 in Germany and there too, used his sporting talents.Mr. Daters loved the land he and his family before had farmed. He moved off the farm in 1988 after his loving wife, Janet, passed away.He was a lifetime member of the St. Joseph parish in State Center, a board member and served as previous president of the Lincoln Valley Golf Association, and an official scorekeeper at the Principal Classic Golf Tournament in Des Moines. He treasured his family, motorhome travel with Janet, and watching the Iowa State Cyclones, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Bears and Notre Dame Football. He enjoyed a good, cold bottle of Pabst Blue Ribbon and golf- until Arthur came to visit- arthritis.No morning ritual was the same after his beloved companion, Mariah, passed away suddenly. This beautiful German Shepherd was always at his side to venture to Caseys in the morning for coffee, mini-muffins and Carl Buddig meat. He treasured Mariah so much, when purchasing a vehicle, made sure Mariah liked it first! Whether it was his pet, family or friends, Fat would always give of himself to care for others first.The day after Christmas of 1969, he was united in marriage to Janet Hey at Saint Cecilia Catholic Church in Ames, Iowa- a ceremony conducted by his life-long friend, Fr. Tom Braak. To this union, Janets daughter Juli became part of the family. Janet was his soul mate and went on before him on January 6th, 1988, in Marshalltown after he cared for her for five years prior during her illness. Comfort now is knowing they are together again.Left to cherish his memory are his granddaughter Megan (Jason) Godfrey and their son Jackson of Marshalltown; siblings- Richard (JoAnn) Daters of Melbourne, Gary (Debi) Daters of Cedar Falls, Beverly Allison of Marshalltown, Shirley Dunn of Clear Lake, Esther Miller of Marshalltown, sister-in-law Jean Daters of Iowa City and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.In death, Fat rejoined his parents Charles and Rosina, his wife and soul mate Janet, brother, Everill Daters, brothers-in-law Richard Dunn and Ralph Miller, nieces Jane and Becky Daters, great nephew Luke Cilek and his longtime friend- Jerry Poling.