Verne Leroy Haruf

Verne Leroy Haruf

1936 – 2019

Vern Leroy Haruf was born on October 13, 1936 to Louis and Eleanor (Shaver) Haruf in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  He passed away on August 7, 2019, at the age of 82, in Yuma, Colorado. 

Verne Haruf was the oldest of four children of Eleanor and Reverend Louis Haruf, a Methodist minister. In 1952 the ministry moved their family from Holyoke to Yuma.  Verne was a junior in High School, he immediately fit right in with all the Yumaites.  He was proud to be a part of the 1953 Yuma Indian High School State Champion Football Team when they beat Sterling by inches in overtime.  After graduating from Yuma High School in 1954, Verne attended Colorado State University and then joined the National Guard. 

Verne was passionate about rodeo and was a Saddle Bronc rider during high school, college and his younger ranching days.  Work hard, then go PLAY hard was his motto!

In 1957 he married Shirley Parrish of Yuma and they had three children.  Jackie was born in Thermopolis, Lynn and Marc were both born in Yuma.  Employed as a ranch manager they moved four times in six years to Fort Collins, Holyoke, Thermapolis, Wyoming and Byers.  Returning to Yuma in 1962, Verne became partners in the Mill Iron Diamond Cattle Corporation, a large farm, ranch and dairy operation, with long time friends Roger Herman, Stan Herman and Wayne Mekelburg.  Verne continued to enjoy rodeo and Yuma sporting events that included his children. 

In the late 1980’s Verne moved to the Denver area and was employed at Dawn Industry as a Sales Manager, representing the company at trade shows all over the United States.  In December of 1992 he married Carol (Miller) Haruf in Cheyenne, Wyoming.  They enjoyed hosting out of town friends and family for the National Western Stock Show, dancing and attending Bronco games and CU sporting events.  During that time they were involved with caring for their grandchildren, taking them skiing, football practices and camps, attending as many of their sporting events as possible which included traveling to Nebraska and Kansas.  Verne retired and they moved back to Yuma.  He was happy to be close to his three children and continued to be involved with his grandchildren’s events.  Verne enjoyed sharing stories with all his ole cowboy friends.  The best part of Harry’s “retirement” was working cattle again with “Sonny” (Marc)!

Harry was just a Good Ole Cowboy!!

Verne was preceded in death by his parents, Reverend Louis and Eleanor Haruf; his sister Edith, brothers, Kent and David Mark and nephew Mark K. Haruf. 

Verne is survived by his wife Carol (Miller) Haruf of Yuma; daughters, Jackie and husband Butch Raile of Hamilton, Montana; Lynn Haruf of Haxtun, and son Marc and wife Tami Haruf of Yuma. Stepchildren, Joni of Indianola, Iowa; Jeff (Anita) and Jamie (Nicole) both of Wichita, Kansas. Grandchildren, Aaron (Elizabeth) McBride and great grandson Henry of Grand Rapids, Michigan; Shane (Hannah) McBride of Portland, Oregon; Molly Haruf (Jared); Jake and Trevor Haruf all of Yuma; Ashley, Brice, Brittany, Garret, Zach, Jacob, Hayden, Ross, Caroline, Reed, Caitlyn, Kylee and Ryan along with six great grandchildren. 

The memorial service was held on Saturday, August 10, 2019 at 10:30 at the Yuma United Methodist Church with Pastor Jaime Nieves officiating.  Baucke Funeral Home directed the service. 

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