4/14/2004
Funeral services for William Verne Core, 83, of Clinton, who died Wednesday, April 14, 2004, at his home, were held Monday, April 19, at the First Presbyterian Church
in Clinton. Rev. Connie Peake officiated at the services. Interment was at the Clinton
Lawn Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Al Bowers, Hugh Lamont, Byron Starr, Dr. Robert
Simmons, Sr., Don Krambeck, and Hank Dihlmann. Honorary bearers were Richard Bunker,
Bill Anderson, William Zaiser, and Ed Howes.
William was born on Sept. 13, 1920,
in Marion County, the son of Clarence and Gertrude (McGraw) Core.
He married Irene
Pohlson on Sept. 9, 1947, in Ottumwa; she died April 30, 1996. He was a 1937 graduate
of Knoxville High School and attended Central College in Pella and Drake University
in Des Moines. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the Air Force from 1942
until honorably discharged in 1945 as a First Lieutenant. He served in the reserves
from 1945 to 1980 retiring as a Major.
He was a resident adjustor for Western Adjustment
and Inspection Company from 1946-1955. He later founded Core and Company in 1955
and later became Core-Vens Insurance Company in 1963.
He was a 50-year member of
the First Presbyterian Church where he served as an elder, served on the board of
the Clinton Area Development Corporation for 12 years, serving as president for
four years, served on the Clinton Airport Commission, the board of Sarah Harding,
co-chair of the American Red Cross for the state of Iowa, member of the Clinton
Chamber of Commerce for 30 years where he served as treasurer for two years, member
of the Jr. Chamber, Mr. Mutual Agent of Iowa, the Clinton Country Club and president
of Professional Insurance Agents of Iowa.
He also wrote his autobiography, Lest
I Forget, a story of his childhood in rural Iowa during the Great Depression. Copies
of his book are available at the Clinton Public Library.
He was preceded in death
by his parents; his wife, and a brother, Forrest. He is survived by two sons, Christopher
C. Core and wife, Anne of 'Chevy Chase, Md. and Eric M. Core and wife Beth of Potomac,
Md.; two grandchildren, Tabitha and Ethan Core; a brother, Clyde Core of Jacksonville,
Ha.; a sister, Alberta VanZee of Colorado Springs, Colo.; and a special nephew,
J. Drew Chambers of Clinton.
Memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian' Church
or Friends of the Clinton Public Library. Arrangements were made by Snell-Zornig-Dennis
A. Lemke Funeral Home.