Dr. Vernon Brickley

DR. VERNON ARTHUR BRICKLEY

Cedar Rapids

Dr. Vernon Arthur Brickley, 80, died surrounded by family on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016.

He was born on Feb. 13, 1935, in Vinton, Iowa, to Grant and Gladys (Bender) Brickley. He was a 1953 graduate of Lincoln High School in Vinton and graduated from Iowa State University in 1960, where he was a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity. In 1962, he received his Doctor of Optometry from Illinois College of Optometry and was president of his class.

Vern was married to Priscilla Grigg in Trinity Methodist Church in Cedar Rapids, on Aug. 5, 1961. They were blessed with two children, Lisa and Grant. He began practicing optometry in Dixon, Ill., with Dr. Lamar Wells. He was affiliated with IOA and AOA and served as president of Northern Illinois Optometric Association. He retired in 2006 after 44 years of practice in the Dixon area.

A longstanding member of the First Presbyterian Church in Dixon, he served a number of terms as elder. He was noted for his love of vocal music and sang tenor in the church choir for over 50 years. He was a member of and sang solos in the Sauk Valley Chorus. He was a member of the Rockford Mendelssohn Chorale and enjoyed singing in the Messiah each Christmas season with the Rockford Choral Union. He was a charter member of the Dixon Evening Lions and served on the Kreider Service board of directors, recently retiring after years of serving as vice president.

Family gatherings were an important part of his life and countless hours of laughter and talk were spent around the dining room table. He was a second-generation die hard Cubs fan and every year hoped this was "the year." Maybe this year? He had a sincere interest in people and truly enjoyed getting to know them. Anyone who knew him heard him say, "okey-dokel."

He was predeceased by his parents; brother, Donald; sister-in-law, Lucia Brickley; and brother-in-law, John Grigg.

Survivors include his wife, Priscilla; daughter, Lisa (Loren) Wolf of Dixon; son, Grant of Antioch, Ill.; granddaughters, Alexandra and Madeline Fink of Dixon, and Kalrissa (Matthew) Taylor of Genoa, Ill.; stepgrandchildren, Aaron (Jillian) Wolf and Jeremy (Mallory) Wolf, both of Dixon; and great-grandchildren, Addison and Mason Wolf. Also surviving is brother, Alvin Brickley of Hendersonville, N.C.; sister, Ruth (Roger) Grove of Sheldahl; two sisters-in-law, Marilyn Brickley of Phoenix, Ariz., and Margitta Grigg of Antioch, Ill.; and 12 nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12, at Jones Funeral Home in Dixon. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, at First Presbyterian Church in Dixon with Pastor David Spaulding officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established for the First Presbyterian Church and Kreider Services in Dixon.

Condolences may be sent to www.thejonesfh.com.