Verna Violet Ulrey, age 87 of Monroe, passed away on Sunday, January 5, 2025 at The
Cottages in Pella. Funeral services will be held on Friday, January 17, 2025, at 10:30 am at
First Baptist Church in Monroe. Burial will follow at Silent City Cemetery. The family will greet
friends on Thursday, January 16, 2025 from 5:00 – 7:00 pm at Coburn Funeral Home in
Monroe. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Activity Fund at The Cottages and
checks may be made payable to The Cottages. Memorials may be mailed to the funeral home
at Coburn Funeral Home 24 West Howard Street Colfax, Iowa 50054 Attn: Verna Ulrey.
Condolences may be left for the family at www.coburnfuneralhomes.com
The daughter of Fred and Rosa Marie (Tinnermeier) Rethmeier, Verna was born on May 2,
1937 in Newton, Iowa. She lived her childhood on the family farm north of Newton, IA and
graduated from Newton High School in 1956. Verna lived most of her adult life in Monroe, IA
until 2018 when she moved to Pella, IA until her passing. She was a hardworking single mother
of five and although our family did not have much money we could always count on mom to
provide our basic needs. Verna was a cook until she retired and a member of Cornerstone
Baptist Church in Ankeny, IA. She liked to spend time with family and friends and enjoyed
cooking for others, listening to music, and watching her soap operas and western movies.
Those left to honor her memory include her children Becky (Gary) Nolin, Casey (Tammi) Ulrey,
and Tony (Nicole) Stafford; 15 grandchildren and many great grandchildren. Preceding her in
death were her parents, a daughter, Robin Goodman, a son, Scott Ulrey, and her siblings,
Ralph, Florence, Glen, Floyd, Robert, Violet, Morris, Myrtle, Donald, Darrell, and her twin
brother, Verne.
