Vernal was born October 8, 1933 to Glenn and Hermina Neifert in Mason City, Iowa the youngest of three daughters - Jean, Genny and Vernal. They lived in Plymouth and Ogden, Iowa where Glenn was superintendent of schools. He contracted TB and was confined for 3 years in Iowa City. It was a difficult time. On recovery, the family moved to Indianola where Vernal attended 3rd through 10th grade. The family moved to Red Oak where Vernal graduated from high school.

Vernal was gifted with an extraordinary alto voice and she performed solos all over the Midwest by request. The highlight of her musical career was when she and Rollie, her late husband, performed a two-person musical called “I do, I do” at the Simpson Performing Arts Center to a packed house.

She enrolled at Drake University as a theater major. She met Roland Renard, an upperclassman, and Air Force cadet. They were married December 26, 1954. After Air Force basic training in Houston, Texas, they were assigned to the Sacramento, CA AFB where, son, Kelly Allen was born. They were next assigned to Tampa, FL AFB where, son, Randall Lee was born. Their next assignment was to Kokomo, IN AFB where, daughter, Tammy Lynn was born.

After several years in the Air Force Rollie retired. The family then moved to Indianola, Iowa and spent their time between Drake University and Kirksville, MO where Vernal and Rollie obtained their teaching certificates. They were both employed by the Indianola School system - Rollie as a teacher/coach and Vernal as the middle school librarian. During the summers, they lived in a 12-foot trailer building a cabin on Stoney Lake in northern Minnesota.

Years later, Rollie developed prostate cancer and passed away in 2007. In November 2007, a former classmate of Vernal’s, Jim McClymond, a widower from San Diego learned of Rollie’s passing and contacted Vernal to share his condolences. Many letters and phone calls ensued. They were married August 31, 2008. Jim moved to Iowa for 2 years until Vernal’s granddaughter, Christina, graduated from high school. For the next 15 years, they split their time 50/50 between San Diego and Indianola. Vernal developed close friends in California. Later health problems arose and they decided to live full-time in Indianola until Vernal passed away on September 2, 2026.

Vernal was active in Delta Gamma, PEO, “lunch bunch”, and bridge club. She leaves behind her husband, Jim, three children, Kelly (Rhonda), Randy, Tammy (Mike), 10 grandchildren and 8 1/2 great grandchildren and innumerable friends.

The service will be at Overton Funeral Home located at 501 West Ashland Avenue, Indianola, Iowa 50125 on Thursday, September 10th with visitation at 10:00 a.m. and memorial services at 11:00 a.m. that same day. There will be a luncheon following the services at the fellowship hall of Trinity United Presbyterian Church, 200 South Howard Street. Inurnment of cremains will follow the luncheon in the Indianola I.O.O.F. Cemetery.

Memorials should be directed to Trinity United Presbyterian Church, Iowa Public Television or Indianola Public Library.