Verda Battles

May 9, 1931 - July 22, 2016

Verda Louise Kopaska Battles, daughter of Otto Edgar Kopaska and Ida Florence Messenger Kopaska, was born May 9, 1931 in Guthrie County, Iowa. Verda died July 22, 2016, at the Greene County Medical Center in Jefferson, Iowa, with her family by her side at the age of 85 years. Verda grew up in Guthrie County and attended school through the 8th grade. On February 10, 1950, Verda was united in marriage to Johnie Battles at the United Methodist Church in Rippey, Iowa. They were the proud parents of two children: Katherine and Linda. They made their home in rural Jefferson. Verda worked side-by-side with Johnie farming on the family farm by Squirrel Hollow and she raised chickens and ducks. In 1964, Verda and Johnie gave up farming and moved to Jefferson and she worked at the Middle School as a cook for many years. In 1970, Johnie and Verda opened Battles Auto Repair and Towing Service in Jefferson. Johnie and Verda ran the business together with Verda doing books, scheduling appointments and operating the CB radios to inform the wrecker drivers of their next location and customer pick up. Verda loved her family and spent many, many hours babysitting her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She loved to keep her hands busy and would always be making something. She loved to knit, crochet, embroidery and sew clothing for herself and family members. Verda also took classes to learn to play the organ and make porcelain dolls. She was a long time member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Jefferson. Verda was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Johnie, her daughter Katherine; grandson Mark Kendall; brothers: Willard and Elmer; sisters Twilla Kopaska in infancy, Loris Paige and Jean Banks. She is survived by her daughter Linda (Dennis) Battles-Thede of Jefferson, IA; 6 grandchildren: Lewis Kendall, Sam (Amanda) Kendall, Stacey (Meghan) Anderson, Steven (Jane) Anderson, Laura (Marcus) Anderson-Smoot, and Kelly (Adam) Thede-Derry; many great-grandchildren; 2 brothers-in-law: Robert (Sandra) Battles of Minneapolis, MN, and Gary (Johnnie) Battles of Oklahoma City, OK; numerous nieces; nephews; other relatives; and friends. Memorial Services for Verda Battles, 85, of Jefferson will be 11:30 am Saturday, July 30, 2016 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Jefferson. Visitation with the family present to greet friends will be Friday, July 29, 2016 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home in Jefferson. A private family burial will take place at Jefferson Cemetery, Jefferson, Iowa. Memorials are suggested to Trinity Lutheran Church in Jefferson and may be left at Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home.