Irvin Venter

Irvin H. Venter, 78, of Geneseo died on Wednesday, March 08, 2017 at Hammond-Henry Hospital, Geneseo.  Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, March 13th at Grace United Methodist Church, 318 N. Center, St., Geneseo.  Rev. Melva England will officiate.  Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery, Geneseo.  Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Sunday at the church.  Memorials may be made to Irvin Venter Memorial Fund.

Irvin was born October 6, 1938 in Waterloo, IA the son of Henry and Thola (Townsend) Venter.  He graduated from East Waterloo High School in 1957.  On October 1, 1966 he married Karen Roloff in Waterloo, IA.  She survives.

Irvin began his training as a blacksmith in 1959 at Holmes Welding in Hudson, Iowa.  The couple moved to Geneseo in 1967 when Irvin went to work for Blackhawk Foundation and he also operated a part-time business of Irv’s Repair.  He opened Venter’s Welding & Fab in 1973 which in 1985 with their son Scott became SIVCO Welding in Geneseo. (Scott Irvin Venter Company).  Irvin owned and operated SIVCO until retiring in 2016.

Memberships include Grace United Methodist Church, Geneseo, Iowa Blacksmith & Weldors Association, National Blacksmith & Weldors Association and the Christian Motorcycle Association.  Irvin was a longtime NASCAR fan and he had attended the last race on the beach at Daytona, FL and the first race on the new Daytona Track, now Daytona International Speedway.  Early in his life Irvin had been a Round & Round Dirt Track Racer and later was involved in Drag Racing along with his son Scott.

Irvin is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Karen, a sister-in-law, Dorothy Elfritz, two nephews, several great nieces and cousins.  He was preceded in death by his parents and son, Scott.

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