Iona I. Verke

Iona I. Verke, age 94 of Lankin, North Dakota passed away on Tuesday, August 9, 2016 at Valley Eldercare Center of Grand Forks.

Iona I. Swartz was born August 31, 1921 in Lankin, ND to George and Anna (Hodek) Swartz. She attended school in Lankin and graduated from Lankin High School. Iona married Joseph Patocka. From this union they had one child, Joseph G. Patocka. Iona worked at the Grafton State School and Stan’s Café in Grafton, ND where she met her future husband, Edwin M. Verke. They moved to Fort Ord, CA where they lived while Edwin served in the United States Army. After Edwin’s discharge they returned to North Dakota, living in Mayville, Larimore and Grand Forks, ND. After Edwin’s passing, Iona moved to Lankin, ND and lived there until moving to the Good Samaritan in East Grand Forks, MN. She was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church of Lankin.

Iona loved her family and spent many years caring for her mother and father. Iona enjoyed gardening and tending her flowers. She enjoyed fishing with her father George, Edwin and son Joe. She enjoyed dancing to old time music and listening to country music. In her later years she enjoyed doing word puzzles and jigsaw puzzles. She met many new friends and acquaintances during her stays at assisted living at Good Samaritan, Edgewood Vista Elder Care and the last couple of years at Valley Eldercare. Everyone enjoyed Iona and quickly learned one of her favorites was ice cream.

Iona is survived by her son, Joseph G. (Gloria) Patocka, East Grand Forks, MN; granddaughters: Stephanie Maker, Grand Forks, ND; Stacy (Ken) Beaulieu, Grand Forks, ND; Sharon (Paul) Szymanski, Hutchinson, MN; 11 great grandchildren and four great great grandchildren. Iona was the last surviving member of her immediate family. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Edwin, brothers: Rolland, Glenn and Wilmer “Mike” Swartz, an infant sister, Laverne and two great great grandchildren. She will be lovingly missed by her son Joe and his family and all those whose lives she touched.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, August 13, 2016 at 11:00 A.M. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church of Lankin. Visitation will be Saturday for one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery, Lankin, North Dakota.