Verla MacCanon

Verla MacCanon passed away peacefully in Des Moines, Iowa on June 6, 2016 after a long life. Born Verla Jeanne Shafer to George W. and Grace McDaniel Shafer on December 23, 1920 in Webster City, Iowa, she was the eleventh of twelve children. She attended a one room country school through eighth grade and then graduated from Webster City High School in 1938. In her early years she was active in the Webster City United Brethren Church and in 4-H. She accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior and was baptized when she was thirteen years old. During her high school years she met Robert MacCanon, the preacher’s son, in the church choir. They were married in 1941 and, shortly after the wedding, they moved to Ohio where Robert attended Bonebrake Seminary in Dayton, Ohio.

Verla was a helpmate to Robert throughout his thirty-eight years of ministry in seven churches in the Iowa United Brethren (UB), Evangelical United Brethren (EUB) and United Methodist conferences. Verla, who described herself as “First Lady of the Parsonage,” always went cheerfully to Robert’s assigned pastorates which were: Garwin 1943-1945, Moville 1945-1947, Toledo 1947-1953, Hubbard 1953-1959, Marshalltown 1959-1970, Sumner 1970-1974, and Fort Dodge 1974-1981. Following Robert’s retirement they lived in Washington, Iowa; Toledo, Marshalltown, until Verla moved into Wesley Acres in Des Moines. Verla was well-loved and had many friends in each of the places she lived.

Each year Verla and Robert spent time in their cabin at Riverview Park in Cedar Falls, Iowa to hear preaching during the annual Bible Conference and to gather with other UB pastors during the annual Assembly. Verla and Robert also enjoyed tent camping and traveled across the United States and Canada enjoying nature and visiting historical sites. They made a trip to Israel where Robert re-baptized Verla in the Jordan River.

Verla was known for her joyful spirit. One of Verla’s favorite admonitions was to “Bloom where you are planted”. Another frequent quotation was “This is the day the Lord has made, let us be glad in it.” During the last two decades of her life each person departing her home after a visit was instructed to hold out their hands to receive a blessing which was a song she sang, “May the blessing of the Lord be upon you…” She wrote encouraging letters by hand and sent greeting cards to many in her friendship circle until she was no longer able to continue.

Verla’s parents, husband, and eleven siblings preceded her in death. She is survived by her three daughters, Janice (Donald) Mitchell, Des Moines; MacCanon “Marilyn” Brown of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Rebecca (Darell) Farnbach, Temecula, California; grandchildren: Carmella Thomas, Joel (Lori) Brown, Ben (Maria) Brown, Hannah Brown (Jeff) Reid, Andrew Marshall, Abigail Marshall (Ladislao) Juarez, and nine great-grandchildren: Justin Brown, Taylor Marshall, Kyle Marshall, Colby Brown, Abby Brown, Gavin Reid, Casen Reid, Paloma Juarez, and Santiago Juarez.

Services will be held Thursday, June 16, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. at Hope United Methodist Church in Marshalltown, Iowa with visitation one hour prior. A private burial will be in Cass Center Cemetery near Webster City, IA.

Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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