Vernon Lee Brower, 86, Luverne, died Thursday, May 7, 2015, at the Sanford Luverne Hospice Cottage in Luverne.
A funeral service was Tuesday, May 12, at the Christian Reformed Church in Luverne. Burial was at Maplewood Cemetery in Luverne with full military rights presented by Dell Hogan American Legion Post #123 and Rock County VFW Post #2757.
Vernon Brower was born Feb. 9, 1929, to John Jr. and Dora (Vander Schaaf) Brower in Doon, Iowa, where he was raised and received his education. As a young man, Vernon worked with his father on the Great Northern Railroad. In March 1953 he entered the U.S. Army and served his country as a radio telecommunication operator, attaining the rank of corporal.
He married Wilma Van Wyhe on May 26, 1953, at the Christian Reformed Church parsonage in Rock Rapids, Iowa. The couple lived in Louisiana during Vernon’s service time. Following his honorable discharge in January 1955, they returned to northwest Iowa and lived on Wilma’s family’s farm west of Rock Rapids. They moved to Edgerton for a short time before returning to Rock Rapids. During this time Vernon drove truck for a rendering company and worked on a farm as a hired hand. In 1962 he began working at Iowa Beef Processors in Luverne. The family then moved to Luverne where Vernon worked until his retirement.
Vernon was a member of the Christian Reformed Church in Luverne, where he had served as a deacon and visited shut-ins. He took pride in his home and yard. He enjoyed teaching his children and grandchildren to fish. He liked to visit with others and was known for sharing a joke.
He is survived by five children, Bonnie Lingen, Hills, Sandy Maxwell (Jeff Munson), Hill City, South Dakota, Verlyn (Karla) Brower, Meridian, Idaho, Vance (Laurie) Brower, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Rachele (David) Rylaarsdam, Grandville, Michigan; his grandchildren, Vicky VanderWoude, Seth (Chris) VanderWoude, Davita Farwick, Deidre Farwick, Jonah (Rachel) Lingen, Jocilan (Dan) Fick, Jasmine Lingen, Sherry (Andy) Diller, Erin (Matt) Brown, Eric (Amanda) Lammert, Austin Maxwell, Nicholas Brower, Holly (Jon) Sikha, Josiah Brower, Jeremy Brower, Alex (Tanner) Overweg, Andrew Rylaarsdam, Kate Rylaarsdam, and Simon Rylaarsdam; eight great-grandchildren; a sister, Dorothy Trot, Storm Lake, Iowa; and other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Wilma, on Nov. 21, 2013; a grandson, Jared Lingen, an infant great-granddaughter, Cora Vander Woude; two sons-in-law, Curt Maxwell Jr. and Frank Vander Woude; and his siblings Julie Vissla, Frieda Wagner and David Brower.
Arrangements were by Hartquist Funeral Home of Luverne, www.hartquistfuneral.com.
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