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Vernon 'Vern' Erenberger
VERNON "VERN" R. ERENBERGER
Cedar Rapids
Vernon "Vern" R. Erenberger, 88, of Cedar Rapids, died Saturday, May 12, 2018, from a lengthy illness. Celebration of Life services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 19, at First Presbyterian Church, near Ely, located on Spanish Road. Burial will be in Czech National Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to services Saturday at the church. Brosh Chapel and The Avacentre in Cedar Rapids are in charge of arrangements.
Vern was born at home in rural Ely, attended country school and Ely School. He graduated from Mount Vernon High School. He spent three years in the National Guard as a medic in the 109 Clearing Co. In 1951, he married Kay Pennington. They farmed for 10 years prior to moving to Cedar Rapids, where he drove for Home Town Dairies and American Freight. After retirement, he worked for College Community Schools, driving a school bus. He enjoyed listening to the kids and their funny stories.
Vernon loved the Lord and served as Sunday School superintendent, ordained elder, youth leader, and sang in the church choir several years at First Presbyterian Church, near Ely. For the past 20 years, Vernon fought chronic lymphatic leukemia and used some of the newer findings in fighting the disease, which gave him many years free of illness. In his spare time, you could find at a Hawkeye football game, watching the Cubs play baseball or taking the grandkids fishing.
Survivors include his wife, Kay; son, Vernon Douglas Erenberger; and daughter, Suzanne Hendrickson; brother, Robert (Beverly) Erenberger; grandchildren, Timothy (Angela), Joseph (Lydia), Amy, Anthony, Samantha and Joshua Erenberger, Angela Tipton (Steven) and Ryan Hoagland (Elizabeth); 14 great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews he loved dearly; as well as sisters-in-law, Beverly Lynch and Gloria Achenbach.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Lillian; son, Bradley; grandson, Matthew Hoagland; brothers and spouses, Donald (Ruth) and Kenneth (RaeJean) Erenberger; and brothers-in-law, Willard Lynch and Richard Achenbach.
Memorials may be directed to First Presbyterian Church, near Ely, or donor's choice.
Online condolences may be expressed to the family www.broshchapel.com.
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