Dallas Laverne Munch

Dallas LaVerne Munch, the son of Jens Peter and Sena (Larsen) Munch, was born February 19, 1929, at his parents’ farm west of Exira, Iowa, and died November 4, 2020, at the Exira Care Center in Exira at the age of 91 years, 8 months, and 15 days.

Dallas was baptized on April 17, 1932, at Bethany Lutheran Church in Kimballton, Iowa, and was later confirmed into the Lutheran faith. He attended rural Hamlin #9 school then helped his grandfather on the family farm, where they grew row crops and raised livestock. Dallas especially enjoyed helping at harvest time.

On December 22, 1950, Dallas enlisted in the United States Navy, where he served as a Seaman. He completed three tours in the Korean waters on the destroyer USS James E. Keyes and was honorably discharged in Long Beach, California, on October 24, 1954.

Dallas was united in marriage to Gloria Petersen on January 30, 1954, at the Gretna Green Wedding Chapel in Yuma, Arizona, and to this marriage, five children were born: Steve, Sheri, Lori, Timothy, and Michael. The family made their home in Audubon County in various locations throughout the years, and worked for many area farmers during this time. Together, Gloria and Dallas loved playing cards with their card group until Gloria died on March 10, 1983.

On December 19, 1985, Dallas married Nancy Petersen in Audubon, Iowa. In 1987, they purchased The Barstool in Exira, and when he wasn’t farming, Dallas and Nancy loved spending time there, socializing and having fun with friends and customers. Nancy died April 22, 2019.

Farming and being around people were Dallas’s passions. He never met a stranger. Even after his retirement, he helped his children during harvest season and helped with mowing and maintenance at the Exira Cemetery until the year before he entered the Exira Care Center in May of 2013.

Preceding Dallas in death were his wives, Gloria Munch and Nancy Munch; his sons, Steve Munch, infant son Timothy Munch, and Michael Munch; his parents; his siblings: Virgil and wives Martha and Vivian Munch, Mardell and husband Milo Hansen, and Darrell Munch; and step-son, Ron Petersen.

Survivors include his children, Sheri and husband Mike Irlmeier of Brayton, Iowa, and Lori and husband Ned Lewis of Urbandale, Iowa; his daughter-in-law, Kristy Munch of Greeley, Colorado; his grandchildren: Nicholas and wife Sarah Irlmeier of Grimes, Iowa; Rachel and husband Todd Hansen of Mason City, Iowa; Tyler and wife Lindsey Irlmeier of Ankeny, Iowa; Jacob and wife Megan Irlmeier of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Eric and wife Megan Lewis of Urbandale, Iowa; Adam and wife Becky Lewis of Bentonville, Arkansas; Tonya Freeman of Ardmore, Oklahoma; Jeremy Munch of Guthrie Center, Iowa; Tanya Parra of Greeley, Colorado; Brian and wife Jessica Herley of Loveland, Colorado; and Ashley Munch of Greeley, Colorado; his step-children: Rick and wife Deb Petersen of Atlantic, Iowa; Rhonda and husband Dave Wilkerson of Exira, Iowa; Dennis Petersen of Exira, Iowa; and Toni and husband Kent Schlater of Exira, Iowa; and several great-grandchildren, and step-grandchildren, and step great-grandchildren; as well as nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many friends.

A Celebration of Life Memorial Graveside Service will be held on Thursday, November 12, 2020, at 2:00 P.M. at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon, Iowa with Pastor Steven Frock officiating. There will be no visitation or viewing prior to the service. Inurnment will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon. The Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon is in charge of his arrangements.

The memorial service will be livestreamed on KESSLER FUNERAL HOMES INC. Facebook page. To get there, log into your Facebook account (you will need one to view the service), search for and navigate to the KESSLER FUNERAL HOMES INC. Facebook page, and at the time the service goes live, it will populate in the timeline. You may also scroll to the bottom of our homepage at www.kesslerfuneralhomes.com page and click the Facebook logo to be taken directly to our page. If you experience difficulties viewing the broadcast at the time of the service, the recording will remain on our Facebook page for additional viewing opportunities.