Verlin L. Ihle

Verlin L. Ihle passed away July 26, 2025. He was born April 17, 1937 to John and Mina (Iverson) Peterson. He was baptized at his mother’s funeral at two weeks of age at Bethany Lutheran in Esofea. Oscar and Hannah (Gronvold) Ihle adopted him as a tiny infant and he was greatly loved by his older brother and sisters. He was confirmed at Upper Coon Valley Lutheran Church in 1951. He attended Erickson Grade School and Westby High School. He joined the Army and proudly served from 1956-1962 having served in Korea for 18 months, he reached the rank of Specialist/E4.

He married Janice Bluske on June 25, 1960 at Upper Coon Valley Lutheran Church. He was a dairy farmer his whole life and remembers utilizing horses for farmwork as a kid. He was a devoted John Deere and Ford man, with sheds full of Green Machines! He loved growing beautiful and bountiful crops to feed his “girls”.

Verlin and his son Bjorn made a great team on the farm. Anyone who stopped by was always welcome to sit, visit and enjoy some coffee and probably Jan’s chocolate cake. He also served on church council in the 60’s. He enjoyed a few trips later in life to New Mexico and California to visit his son Rolv when he was serving in the Air Force. They made a few trips to Boston to visit the in-laws and a couple of other family trips which included South Dakota in 2011 and Rhode Island/New Hampshire in 2016. He was honored to go on the Freedom Honor Flight in May of 2018 with his daughter Corky.

Verlin is survived by his wife: Jan Ihle. Children: Corrine (Randy) Amundson, Bjorn (Becky) Ihle, Rolv (Sandi) Ihle, and bonus son Bill (Tami) Mathison. Granddaughters: Adrianna (Justin) Seidler, Rachelle (Michael Bien) Amundson, and Taylor Mathison. Great–Grandchildren: Samuel, Talia, William and Izabelle Seidler. Four step-grandchildren Patrick Larsen, Jeremy (Yvonne) Pratt, Hollie Satona, Melissa (Chuck) Hundt and nine step great-grandchildren. Also by two sisters-in-law: Judy Anderson and Marla Collins and two sisters Margaret and Doris Rach along with many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers and sisters: Gladys and Noble Stendahl, Hazel and Edwin Rudie, Alice and Ervin Nerison, Ozzie and Annette Ihle, Arlene and James Volden, Arnold and Olga Peterson and brothers-in-law: Frank and James Rach, one step-great-granddaughter and sister-in-law Christine Simoneau.

The family would like to thank Emplify Health for their compassionate care and Pastor Ben Morris for his comforting words. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Coon Valley Lutheran Church, Freedom Honor Flight, Coon Valley American Legion, Westby VFW, or the charity of your choice. The family will be making a charitable donation instead of sending individual thank you notes.

Visitation will be held on Friday August 1, 2025 from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Seland Funeral Home in Coon Valley and at the church on Saturday from 10 a.m. until the service. The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday August 2, 2025 at the Coon Valley Lutheran Church. Rev. Ben Morris will officiate with burial in the church cemetery with military honors by the Coon Valley American Legion Post #116 and Westby VFW Honor Guard. Condolences may be given at selandsfuneralhome.com.