Vernon Dee Else, son of Victor and Velma Lavisa (Prather) Else, was born on December 17, 1938 in Nodaway, Iowa. He was baptized and confirmed at the Villisca Advent Christian Church where he was a lifetime member. Vernon attended school in Villisca where he graduated with the Class of 1956. After high school, Vern worked for Sieg Auto Parts and began his carpentry career in Clarinda.
On June 10, 1962, Vernon was united in marriage to Donna Marie Fudge at the Corning Methodist Church in Corning, Iowa. Vern worked at a service station in Corning, sold insurance, and then went to work for Ford Tractor. In 1965, they moved to Harlan and Vern worked building Haverstor Silos throughout the Midwest. When the business moved to Blair, Nebraska, he went to work for John Deere Auto Parts and later to Harlan Contracting.
Vern was also active with the Jaycees and served as a flagman at Shelby County Speedway as well as raceways in Audubon and Adams County, Iowa. Two children were born to this union: Thomas and Theresa. In 1974, they moved to Earling, Iowa where Vern worked for Sullivan Feed and was a member of the volunteer fire department and served as fire chief and on the rescue squad. Vern also served as Scout Master in Earling and in 1979 began working part-time at Medivac Ambulance Service.
In 1988, Vern and Donna returned to Harlan where he began a full-time career with Medivac Ambulance as an EMT-I. After a short retirement in 2003, Vern returned to Medivac where he drove the wheel chair van and very much enjoyed the company of his passengers until his full retirement in July 2014 due to ill health.
Vern enjoyed spending time camping with family, loved his “Baby” cat, woodworking, and could always be found enjoying the weather and the people of the community on the front porch of their home.
Vern died at home on June 12, 2015, amongst family and friends, having attained the age of seventy-six years, five months and twenty-six days. In addition to his parents, Vern was preceded in death by his son Thomas. He is survived by his wife Donna Else of Harlan; his daughter Theresa and her husband Todd Doerr of Earling, Iowa; his grandchildren: David Archibald and his wife Britney of Harlan, Thomas, Haylee, Braydon, Caleb Ernst and Charlee Doerr all of Earling; step-grandchild Aleea Doerr of Waukee, Iowa; great-grandchild Reese Archibald of Harlan; his brother Vincent Else and his wife Judy of Nodaway, Iowa; nieces and nephews; other relatives, his Medivac family, and many, many friends.
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