Zerbee, Vernon G. 'Vern'

Vernon G. “Vern” Zerbee, 79, of Cedar Rapids, died Saturday, May 29, 2010, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy, Hiawatha. Services: 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 2, at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cedar Rapids, conducted by his son-in-law, Mike Smith. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Burial: Shueyville Cemetery.

Survivors include his wife of 49 years, Lucille; his children, Fred (Wendy) Zerbee, Verna Zerbee, Connie (Larry) Nesbitt, Daryl Zerbee, Debbie (John) Westfall, Terrie (Dave) Chalupsky, Nancy (Mike) Smith and Tammy (Porky) Portzline; 19 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father; his siblings; and a son, Danny Lybarger.

Vern was born Sept. 19, 1930, the son of George and Ethel (Lawrence) Zerbee, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. On Feb. 18, 1961, he was united in marriage to Lucille Kohl in Rock Island, Ill. Vern was a millwright for Local 2158 and later a welder for Devine Engineering. He built and raced ¾-midget and micro cars. A person who had lots of kindness toward animals, Vern enjoyed raising quarter horses. Vern also enjoyed being a Hawkeye fan, NASCAR, fishing and having coffee with his buddies.

Memorials may be directed to Hospice of Mercy, 315 18th Ave., Hiawatha, IA 52233 in memory of Vern.

Please sign the online guest book for Vern at    under obituaries.