Verna J. Dannemiller

It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of Verna J. Dannemiller, who departed this life on September 15, 2026, in Florence, Arizona. She was 93 years young. Verna now rests in the arms of her Savior and in the eternal home promised by her faith.

Born on February 16, 1933, in Doylestown, Ohio, Verna lived her years with quiet dignity, resilience, and steadfast devotion to the people she loved. Her life was marked by integrity, hard work, generosity, and a willingness to serve others whenever she could. Having been born during the Great Depression, she learned early the value of thrift and resourcefulness, habits she carried throughout her life. Those who knew Verna remember her caring nature, kindness, generosity, and a youthful, adventurous spirit that stayed with her through the years.

Verna graduated from SS. Peter & Paul School in 1947 and from Chippewa Local High School in 1951. At just 18 years old, she left Ohio and traveled west to California, initially intending only to visit her sister, Betty. California, however, quickly became home.

Verna found work at Ray’s Trailer Sales, learned shorthand, and began what would become a career spanning more than forty years. Over time, she became the office manager and later property manager, earning the trust and respect of those around her through her dependability and strong work ethic. When her sister later relocated overseas, Verna found another kind of home with the Crabtree family in Suisun Valley, California. She remained with them for sixty years, becoming woven into the fabric of their family life. She helped with the 4-H Club, attended Holy Spirit Church and later Rockville Presbyterian Fellowship Church, and also worked as needed during elections at the Solano County Election Department.

Thirteen years ago, Verna made her final move, this time to Arizona, where she built yet another chapter of her life and came to truly enjoy the community and friendships she found there.

Perhaps one of the clearest truths of Verna’s life was that family was not defined by blood alone. Verna was a mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother (affectionately known as “GG”), a daughter, twin, sister, niece, aunt, great-aunt, great-great-aunt, cousin, and dear friend. To many people with whom she shared much of her life, she may not have been related by blood, but years of love and shared experiences earned her a place in the family just the same. She was given those family titles not because of genealogy, but because she belonged.

Verna was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Dorothy Dannemiller; her sister, Betty (Gene) Miga; her brother, Robert; her nephews, David and Greg Miga; and other beloved aunts and uncles. She was also preceded in death by members of her extended family, including Ray and Rose Crabtree, Bill Crabtree, Aaron Demuth, Garnet Kimberlin, Fred (Mary) Keffer, Maxine (George) Scott, and other extended family. Verna was also preceded in death by her cat “Holly” whom she had for 15 years.

Verna leaves behind a large and loving family and extended family, including her twin brother, Vern (Barb) Dannemiller; Donna Dannemiller; Sandra (Glenn) Durrance; Ehsan (Melissa Wilmeth) Iraniparast; her great-grand twins, Margot and Theodore Iraniparast; John (Queta) Crabtree; Therese Crabtree; Randy (Cydne) Valenzano; cousins; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and a great-great-niece and nephew.

Her family and extended family are spread across Arizona, California, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, New York, North Carolina, Colorado, Utah, Washington, Idaho, Columbia, Thailand, and Vietnam. She also leaves behind many dear and lifelong friends.

Caring for others was simply part of who Verna was, but she also knew how to enjoy life. She attended Mosaic Church, volunteered with Love Works, helped clean the church, and remained devoted to prayer and her faith. She enjoyed reading, working puzzles, arts and crafts, crocheting the names of family and friends, playing Mexican Train and Hand-and-Foot with her dear Coventry friends, driving her golf cart, spending time at the pool, and walking the track at the Union Center.

And then there was Verna’s homemade caramel corn. Each Christmas, she made it in abundance and shared it freely with family and friends. Like so many of the things Verna did, it was simple, generous, and meant to be shared.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Mosaic Church in Florence, Arizona, on October 30, 2026, with a luncheon to follow. Interment will take place at Rockville Cemetery (Suisun Valley) on November 13, 2026, in Fairfield, California, with a luncheon to follow. Invitations will be sent.

Verna will be deeply missed, but the measure of her life cannot be found simply in the number of years she lived. It can be found in the people she cared for, the families she became a part of, the friendships she kept, the faith she lived, and the countless quiet ways she made others feel loved.

Verna’s spirit remains in the lives she touched, and she will be forever cherished and loved beyond measure.