Verle Gene Haglund, son of Raymond G. and Edna M. (Lofstedt) Haglund, was born Dec. 13, 1940, in Ogden, Iowa, and died Jan. 15, 2025, in Perry, Iowa.
He attended various schools throughout the years, including Audubon, Winterset and Rippey.
Verle loved helping on the farm unless it was milking cows.
He started his life of service in the Iowa Army National Guard in 1963 in Jefferson and was honorably discharged in May 1969 at rank of team chief with awards in marksman (rifle) and sharpshooter (carbine).
Verle managed Garrett Motors body shop from 1965 to 1967.
He joined the Perry Police Department in 1967 and he stayed until 1990. In his 23-year tenure in the police department, he attended various workshops but specifically enjoyed the fire and arson trainings.
Verle was also involved in many professional organizations, including the International Association of Arson Investigators, Greene County Peace Officers Association, Iowa Association of Arson Investigators, and National Association of Chief of Police and Peace Officers.
Upon retiring from law enforcement, he started Haglund’s Towing. He enjoyed bringing all of his family in to help with the towing business.
Verle retired from towing in 2001. He worked a variety of jobs after towing, including hauling money, for which he got to wear his gun and holster again.
Verle was known for telling stories and funny one liners, and he never met a stranger.
His free time was spent working on tractors, volunteering with different organizations, including Masonic Lodge and American Legion and spending time with his family, especially his grandson, Corbin.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and a daughter-in-law, Tina Haglund.
Verle is survived by his wife, Maureen; their children, Greg (Melissa Barr) Haglund of Perry, Mollie (Curtis) Clark of Yale and Jeff Haglund of Perry; grandson, Corbin Clark of Yale; brothers, Doyle Haglund of Florida and Delos Haglund of Jefferson; niece, Roxanne (Todd) Muir of Jefferson.
The family requests those who wish to express sympathy to consider making a donation to the Perry Police Department in Verle’s name.
Visitation, with the family greeting friends, will take place Thursday, Jan. 23 from 5-7 p.m. at the Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home-Perry Chapel at 1721 Park St. in Perry. A private family burial will be held at a later date at the Violet Hill Cemetery in Perry, Iowa. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.caldwellparrish.com.