Velma Verle (Lembke) Powers, 96, of Griswold, who was born, the younger triplet daughter, on December 30, 1928, in Pottawattamie County, Iowa to Francis Joseph and Susie Fern (Freeman) Lembke, she died on February 2, 2025 at The Heritage House in Atlantic, Iowa.
Velm attended Alexander Country School through the eighth grade. She then attended Griswold Public High School, graduating with the class of 1946. On December 12, 1947, she was married to Marion Rex Powers. In 1951, Rex was drafted into the United States Army Signal Corps, and Velma traveled with him when possible. On their return home, Rex and Velma worked a “Mom and Pop” operation of “Rex’s TV and Appliances.” Velma later opened “Brown Jug Antiques” owning and operating for a number of years. Velma served 10 1/2 years on the Griswold City Council and 13 years with the Griswold Ambulance Department. After Rex’s death in 1993, Velma worked 10 ½ years at the Central Church of Christ, in Griswold, where she had been a member since 1942. She was active in her church, where she shared her faith, being a Sunday school teacher for many years, vacation Bible school, Ladies Circle offices, and faithful to her Thursday morning Bible Study.
Velma enjoyed her collection of antiques. Her grandchildren will remember her for her love of nice perfumes, and her antique dolls, but most of all, she enjoyed and loved being with her children, their mates and her grandchildren. Her family was her pride and joy! Velma also enjoyed working with Rex on publishing “The Sign Language” newspaper for deaf people, for many years. She also worked with the Cass County Museum, where Rex founded in with his co-founder Joe Curtis. She also presented the “Meditate With Mo” weekly column, for the Griswold American for many years. Velma and Rex opened their home to exchange students including Annegret from Germany, Surge from France, Ayuami from Japan, and Silvana from Brazil and a Foster child Connie, now deceased.
Velma was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Rex; her brothers: Elton, Dale, Marion; her sisters; Thelma Merle, Belma Berle Dorsheimer, Muriel Hooker, Guinevere Hemphill, Lorraine Edwards, Gale Edwards; her niece Cheryl (Lembke) Laas, Gale (Lembke) Newman, Cynthia McNellis; her nephew Stanley Hemphill.
Velma survivors include her daughter Celeste (Bob) Peck of Griswold; her sons: Drue (Sherry) of Red Oak and Cole (Kim) of Griswold; her grandchildren: Jeb(Brenda) Peck of Griswold, IA, Hallie (Logan) Robinett of Atlantic, IA, Twins: Tess (Michael) Petersen of Wahoo, NE, Maggie (Jared) Masker of Greenfield, IA, Ethan Powers, Omaha, NE, Logan (Aubree) Powers of Council Bluffs, IA, Shay (Jasmine) Powers of Omaha, NE, Bailey Powers (Josh) of Corning, IA; her great grandchildren: Ellie, Colt, Nora, Helena, Maddax, Jay, Penelope, Matilda, Harvey, Dexter; her adopted daughter Silvana Feitosa of Brazil; and many nieces and nephews; and her special little friends Brayden and Tener’s triplets (Koko, Mason and Morgan) and Kiah of Atlantic, IA. Each one of her grandchildren was her favorite.
Celebration of Life Services for Velma will be Friday, February 7, 2025, at 11:00 AM, at the Central Church of Christ in Griswold, Iowa. Casual dress attire is requested. Memorials can be given to the Macedonia Fund at the Central Church of Christ or the Cass County Museum. Rieken Funeral Home in Griswold is assisting the family with arrangements.
