Slade, Vernon D. 'Vern'

Vernon D. “Vern” Slade, 66, of Tiffin, died Sunday, Jan. 10, 2010, at Mercy, Iowa City. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Grace United Methodist Church, Tiffin, with the Rev. Beverly Marshall-Goodell officiating. Burial, with military honors, will be at the Oak Hill Cemetery, Tiffin. Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. today at the church.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in Vern's memory.

Online condolences may be sent for his family through the web at

Vernon DeWaine Slade was born March 20, 1943, in Tiffin, Iowa, the son of DeWaine Slade and G. Donna (Oakes) Slade. He graduated with the class of 1961, from Clear Creek High School. During the Vietnam War, he served his country in the United States Navy aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise. On July 7, 1967, he married Victoria L. “Vickie” Files at the Tiffin Methodist Church. He worked for Hawkeye Wholesale for over 23 years, for American KOYO from 1991 until 1999, and Pearson in Iowa City, from July of 1999 until his retirement in April 2007.

He was a member of the Grace United Methodist Church in Tiffin, Oxford American Legion Post 537 and one of the most loyal of Iowa Hawkeye Fans, dating back nearly 50 years. Vern enjoyed showing his “car” at local antique car shows, loved mushroom hunting, fishing, playing cards with his buddies and spending time at some of the area casinos.

Those who knew Vern, knew a man who enjoyed life, making fun at it, with it and in it. He had such a unique sense of humor and such a caring and generous heart in sharing it. But the blessing most in his life was his family, and most recently his grandsons, who knew him as “Pop Vern.”

His family includes his wife, Vickie; daughter, Tina Merta and her husband and the son Vern never had, Brian Merta; grandsons, Jace and Teagan Merta; sisters, LaVerne Aubrecht, Reta Bream and Donna Dietrich (Darren); his father-in-law, Sherman Files; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Vern was preceded in death by his parents; mother-in-law, Dorothy Files; two brothers-in-law, Robert Aubrecht and Bill Bream; and nephew, Jimmy Aubrecht.

Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service is caring for Vern's family and his services.