LaVern Bredeson

LAVERN BREDESON

Cedar Rapids

LaVern W. Bredeson, 90, of Cedar Rapids, died peacefully with his family by his side on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2015. Services: 11 a.m. Thursday at Our Saviors Lutheran Church. The Rev. Phil Jorgensen will officiate. Entombment, with military rites: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. Friends may call at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday.

Survivors include his wife, Joan; four daughters, Lynn (Gary) Hirsch of Bettendorf, Sue (Darrell) Hoxworth of Lansing, Kan., Karin Taylor of Cedar Rapids and Laurie (Don) Cochran of Corona, Calif.; two sons, Jeff (Jen) of Prior Lake, Minn., and Jon (Kathy) of Bella Vista, Ark.; and a sister, Marion Morgan of Clear Lake. He also is survived by 12 grandchildren, Nealie, Kelly, Emily, Lauren, Zach, Peter, Joe, Ellie, Charlie, Owen, Mitch and Haley; and eight great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Ron.

Vern was born Sept. 15, 1924, in Worth County, the son of Martin and Alice Harmon Bredeson. He graduated from the University of Minnesota, Luther College and the University of Iowa, where he earned a master's degree. He married Joan E. Peterson on June 18, 1950, in Decorah.

Vern taught at Wilson High School and later was a longtime educator and coach at Jefferson High School, retiring in 1986.

Vern was a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church, Sons of Norway, Iowa Baseball Hall of Fame, Jefferson Booster Hall of Fame and National High School Coaches Association. He proudly served in the Navy during World War II. He enjoyed watching his grandchildren play sports, golf, and wintering at Myrtle Beach in South Carolina.

Vern was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, mentor and friend whose memory will be cherished by all who knew and loved him.

Memorial donations may be given to Our Savior Lutheran Church, American Diabetes Association or American Heart Association.

Please leave a message or tribute to the Bredeson family on the Web page, www.cedarmemorial.com under Obituaries.