Kuenster, Vernon Earl

Vernon Earl Kuenster, 84, of Farmersburg, passed away peacefully Thursday, Aug. 29, 2013, at Guttenberg Municipal Hospital, Guttenberg.

Vernon was born April 12, 1929, to Vernon Lee and Dorothy (Gephart) Kuenster in Chicago, Ill. He graduated from Hyde Park High School and went to college at Northern Illinois University in Dekalb, Ill. He was united in marriage to Joyce Johnson on Sept. 3, 1950, in Tipton, Iowa. They would have celebrated 63 years of marriage together a few days after his passing.

Vernon loved his family of five children and worked hard to provide a good life for his family.

Vernon began his career as a livestock buyer with the Chicago Stockyards covering Eastern Iowa from 1951 to 1961. It was during his travels to Iowa he met Joyce Johnson in Tipton. He moved to Farmersburg and owned and operated Kuenster Livestock from 1961 until his retirement in 1987.

Vernon enjoyed golfing (including the highlight of a hole-in-one), fishing, taking many fishing trips to the Gulf of Mexico and Canada with his friends. Until this past year, he could be spotted in his fishing boat on the Mississippi finding the best spots, but not always telling everyone exactly where they were. He was raised on the south side of Chicago which made him an avid Chicago sports fan, whether it was a White Sox game, sitting in the field bleachers after school at the old Comisky Park, the Bulls or the Blackhawks, he enjoyed watching them play. He was also a pitcher on his high school and college teams. He was very happy to live long enough to see the White Sox win the World Series in 2005. For many years Vernon could be seen doing his daily walk in Farmersburg, whether four miles or in recent years, just enough walking to get a cup of coffee and the mail. Vern always had a cheerful greeting for everyone and great sense of humor to share.

Vernon is survived by his wife, Joyce; five children, Steve (Denise) Kuenster of Farmersburg, Scott Kuenster of Boone, Linda Kuenster of Surprise, Ariz., Sue (Bill) Baaden of Newport Beach, Calif., and Jill (Steve) Hill of Oswego, Ill.; seven grandchildren, Darcie (Brent) Dowling, Robert (Bethany) Longmire IV, Michael Baaden, Chelsea (Kyle) Berns, Derek Kuenster, Jordan Kuenster and Cade Kuenster; and three great-grandchildren, Lily Grace, Evie and Nathan.

Vernon was preceded in death by his parents, a grandchild, a father-in-law and mother-in-law.

A Celebration of Life service will be Saturday, Oct. 12, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Farmersburg Community Center.

The family would like to thank all who have helped Vernon and Joyce in the past few months, especially, Scott Henkes and the Farmersburg Fire and Rescue service.

Condolences may be left at www.graufuneralhomes.com.

Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Monona is in charge of arrangements.

Published Sept. 1, 2013 in The Gazette