LeVerne Arnold Kisrow

LeVerne is survived by his children, Victoria (Guy) Winters, Kenneth, Michael (René), Tracy (Mike) Heirlinger, Mary (Ron) Murray, Christine (Gene) Conger; as well as 28 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild; siblings Lowell, Loren and Linda Taylor, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Myrna, siblings Leo, LeRoy, Violet Bugarin, Leland and his grandson Daniel Winters.

LeVerne was born in his family home (in front of the bay window) in the small town of Viola, MN, to Leopold and Norma (Ziemann). His elementary years were spent in southern Minnesota near the Rochester area and at age 16 he moved with his family north to Ely, Minnesota. His father died in Ely when Vern was 16. Vern graduated from Ely High School in 1952 and enlisted in the Navy (during the Korean War). During his third training school (electronics) in Memphis, he met his wife, Myrna Joan Brandon, at the USO. LeVerne and Myrna married Sept 4, 1953 and moved to Coronado Naval base near San Diego, where he served as an Aviation Electronics Technician with HS-2. They lived on base where their first child was born Nov 1954. In 1955, Vern deployed with the USS Bandoeng Strait. He visited Hawaii, Yokosuka, Japan, where the ship had to have the drive shaft replaced, Hong Kong, Okinawa, Formosa and back to Japan again before returning to San Diego. After discharge from the Navy in June 1956, the family moved to Blaine, MN.

In 1960 LeVerne and Myrna realized their need for a savior and dedicated their lives to Jesus, a decision that would continue through future generations. They initially attended 1st Methodist Church in Coon Rapids, then helped start the Anoka Wesleyan Methodist Church in 1963, which later became Anoka Wesleyan Church. Vern and Myrna continued to be pillars of the church where they raised their family of six children. In 2022 Vern started attending the North Point Wesleyan Church in Coon Rapids. His son Ken was his faithful driver for over ten years. LeVerne was a charter member when International Bible Givers (IBG) was formed in 1989. He truly believed that God speaks to people’s souls through His Word, resulting in changed lives.

In 1968, the family moved from Blaine to Ramsey (living in 3 places while Vern helped build the new home). That life in Ramsey was the beginning of a steady, firm family, God as our core. In 1985, they moved into the house in Andover, designed and built with Tory and Guy Winters. His dedication to his wife was demonstrated by faithful loving attention, including family trips to Myrna’s southern relatives who knew him as ‘Lee’. They continued this tradition by taking grandchildren with them to enjoy fishing and Blanchard Springs Caverns along with other activities.

In 2003 he initiated the annual Kisrow-Ziemann Reunion at the Chester Woods Park near Rochester. The park property includes his parents’ homestead. Vern thoroughly enjoyed the 2025 Reunion, August 1-3 (these reunions were always in August ensuring him a large family birthday party).

After LeVerne’s discharge from the Navy he went to work as an electronics technician. He took college night classes and became an electronics engineer. He worked 40 years for a number of companies (including Honeywell, 3M, Alt Electronics, Contemporary Electronics, Buckbee-Mears Co., Control Data, and Tower Electronics). He was awarded a patent in 1968 for a voltage regulator and in 1978 for an x-ray film size sensor. He especially enjoyed working in the development of fish locators, where he was at the ground floor of lake bottom mapping sonar. Vern retired at the age of 68 in 2002 and then enjoyed freelancing for a couple of years.

A funeral service will occur Monday, September 8, 2025 at 12:30 PM, at Anoka Covenant Church, 752 Grant St, Anoka, MN. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service. Interment to follow at Morningside Memorial Gardens, 11800 University Ave NW, Coon Rapids.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Dad's memory to: International Bible Givers - IBG “Give Hope, Give Life, Give Bibles” www.internationalbiblegivers.org or his church North Point Church, Coon Rapids, MN 55433 northpc.org