Vernon V. Vrtiska - Age 80

     Vernon Vester Vrtiska, the son of John A. and Alma (Zelenka) Vrtiska, was born on January 31, 1925, at rural Violet, Nebraska. He graduated from Pawnee High School in Pawnee City, Nebraska. Vernon received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Nebraska (UNL) and a Masters degree in Education from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Nebraska. Vernon taught high school Biology and Physics for thirty-two years in Persia, Underwood, and Harlan, Iowa.

     On July 22, 1961, Vernon was united in marriage to Vernice Ann Hill at the Exira Lutheran Church in Exira, Iowa. After their marriage, they resided in Harlan, Iowa.

     Vernon was a member and a board member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Harlan, member and past president of the Harlan Community Library Board, and also a member of NEA, ISEA, and HEA. His hobbies included tinkering in his workshop. He loved music, particularly jazz, and played the trombone in the UNL band and in various dance bands. Vernon was well known for his insatiable quest for knowledge. He was a devoted, caring husband and very fond of his nieces and nephews.

     Vernon died Sunday, July 10, 2005, at Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa, after a two and a half year valiant battle with Leukemia. He attained the age of eighty years, five months and ten days. In addition to his parents, Vernon was preceded in death by his brother, Elmer; sister, Alice and her husband Marvin Hays; and mother-in-law, Ann Hill.

     Survivors include his wife, Vernice of Harlan, Iowa; sister-in-law, Marjorie Vrtiska of Pawnee City, Nebraska; many loving and supportive nieces and nephews from across the United States and countless friends.

     Funeral services were held on Wednesday, July 13, 2005, at 11:00 A.M. at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Harlan, Iowa, with Rev. Mark Jamison and Rev. Heather Ploen officiating. Interment was in the Harlan Cemetery in Harlan, Iowa, with Vernon L. Foje, Bill Strabala, Ronald Rinne, Jerry Hopper, JP Findlay and Terry Hopper serving as honorary casket bearers. Serving as casket bearers were Wayne Raasch, Chuck Branstetter, Emil Beranek, Phil Berryhill, Vernon Rinne and Larry Tweedt.