WAUKESHA - Verna C. Howard of Waukesha died Wednesday, Dec. 1, 1999, at Waukesha Memorial Hospital at the age of 63. She was born to Vernon and Vera (nee Jones) Kahl on March 26, 1936, and grew up in Verona. She graduated from Verona High School as valedictorian She went to Carroll College to major in music. There she met Jim Howard, married and lived the rest of her life in Waukesha. She was employed at the Waukesha County Human Services Department for many years. She was a charter member of Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, was a member of the First Tuesdays Club, and was active in her union, the AFSCME Council 40. Verna was active in politics and ran for the state Assembly and Waukesha City Council. She was a great lover of music, and loved to travel and spend time with her family. Verna was a wonderful mother, grandmother and sister for all her family. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends, but we will always have fond memories.

She is survived by her children, Christine (Mike Rucks) Miller of Madison, David Howard of Waukesha, Mark (Debbie) Howard of Camp LeJuene, N.C., Thomas Howard of Waukesha and Robert (Beth) Howard of San Francisco, Calif.; six grandchildren; two brothers, Maynard (Mossie) Kahl of Florida and Kenneth (Kay) Kahl of Verona; and three sisters, Vera Kahl of Madison, Lyn (Curt) Elver of Florida and Lorlene (Fred) Pulver of Verona. She was preceded in death by her parents and her daughter, Cathy.

The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. until the time of the memorial service at 3 p.m. Monday, Dec. 6, at Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, W250-S3635 Center Road, Waukesha; the Rev. Richard Engen will officiate. Burial of the cremated remains will take place at Sunset Memory Gardens in Madison at a later date.