Verna Eads

Prophetstown-Verna Margaret Eads, 83, of Prophetstown, died Wednesday, October 22, 2014. Born April 25, 1931 in Hopkins Township, Illinois, Verna was a daughter of the late Henry Edward and Ruth Margaret (Hellem) Oltmanns. She was raised and educated in the Sterling area and graduated from SHS. After graduation she enlisted in the Women's Army Corp and honorably served from 1950 to 1954. She married Charles W. Eads on November 26, 1959, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Sterling. He preceded her in death on August 15, 2014. Verna lived in Sterling, Lyndon, Rock Falls and Erie from 1959 until 1980, with her husband and children. In 1980 she and her family moved to Prophetstown and she lived there for 34 years, until her death. She worked at many jobs throughout her lifetime, but her proudest achievements were being a mother to her two children, a foster parent for many years, and a child advocate caseworker until her retirement. Survivors include one son, Charles "Dan" Eads; one daughter, Deborah (Norbert) Pempe; five grandchildren: Norbert A. (Alyssa Zimmerman) Pempe, Remington (Jean) Pempe, Czarina (Don) Ruffatto, Sterling (Jessie) Pempe, and Arianna Pempe; four great-grandchildren: Xander Pempe, Kent Pempe, Logan Pempe, and Kaedyn Pempe; and one sister Janet Carl, and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, three brothers: Edward P. Oltmanns, William H. Oltmanns, Daniel Oltmanns in infancy; and one sister Beulah Oltmanns. Memorial service will be held November 1, 2014 at St. John's Lutheran Church, in Sterling, at 11 AM. Visitation will be held prior to the memorial service starting at10AM. Graveside service with military rites will be held at Lyndon Cemetery immediately following the memorial service. Schilling Funeral Home in Sterling is handling arrangements. A memorial has been established. Visit schillingfuneralhome.com to send condolences.