LaVerne “Swede” Odin, age 94, of Long Beach, California, passed away June 10, 2011. He was the son of a blacksmith, Oscar Odin, and mother Emma Peterson Odin. He was born June 7, 1917, in a log house northeast of Pilot Mound, Iowa. He attended his first 2 years of school in Pilot Mound before moving to Ogden in 1924. He graduated from Ogden High School with the class of 1935. Swede moved to California in early 1941. He was a World War II Veteran, entering the Army Air Corps in July 1942, serving 3 ½ years in Africa, Sardinia, with 2 years spent in Italy. He attained the rank of Staff Sergeant, serving as Instrument Specialist on P-38 “Lightning” aircraft, attached to the Eddie Rickenbacker “Hat in the Ring” Squadron of the 1st Fighter Group.
After the war, he returned to Long Beach and attended Long Beach City College for 2 years. He married Verna Van Slyke, from Ogden, November 3, 1947, in Las Vegas, Nevada. He retired from the City of Long Beach Survey Section of the Engineering Department in 1977. He loved to travel, square dance, bowl, golf, do oil paintings and pencil sketching. He belonged to 2 square dance clubs for 32 years.
He was a lifetime member of the Boone County Historical Society and previously donated 2 of his wife Verna’s World War II Women Marine uniforms there, on display in the Historical Building.
He is survived by his children, David Odin of Las Vegas and Anita Tunnicliff (Jan) of Long Beach, grandchildren Sharon Tuckey (Jake), twins Brian and Wendy Tunnicliff, Jason Odin, Jeffrey Odin, and Jodi Jenkins (Fred) and also 2 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Verna in 1983, and by parents Oscar and Emma Odin, brother Clarence and sisters Irene Parrish, Alice Burton, Clara Davis, all of Iowa, Fern Thornley of New Mexico and Viola Nettles of Denver, Colorado. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 23, in Long Beach, California.
After the war, he returned to Long Beach and attended Long Beach City College for 2 years. He married Verna Van Slyke, from Ogden, November 3, 1947, in Las Vegas, Nevada. He retired from the City of Long Beach Survey Section of the Engineering Department in 1977. He loved to travel, square dance, bowl, golf, do oil paintings and pencil sketching. He belonged to 2 square dance clubs for 32 years.
He was a lifetime member of the Boone County Historical Society and previously donated 2 of his wife Verna’s World War II Women Marine uniforms there, on display in the Historical Building.
He is survived by his children, David Odin of Las Vegas and Anita Tunnicliff (Jan) of Long Beach, grandchildren Sharon Tuckey (Jake), twins Brian and Wendy Tunnicliff, Jason Odin, Jeffrey Odin, and Jodi Jenkins (Fred) and also 2 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Verna in 1983, and by parents Oscar and Emma Odin, brother Clarence and sisters Irene Parrish, Alice Burton, Clara Davis, all of Iowa, Fern Thornley of New Mexico and Viola Nettles of Denver, Colorado. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 23, in Long Beach, California.
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