Vernon Joseph Gudenkauf, 08 Nov 1932 - 23 Nov 2021

GUDENKAUF, JAEGER, MCGRAW, BRINCKS, JACOBS, DROBNICK, HESSSELING, FORTMAN, KELCHEN, STEFFEN, POTTEBAUM, HOGAN, HOEGER

Posted By: Sarah Witte (email)
Date: 12/3/2021 at 14:55:44

Vernon J. Gudenkauf, 89, of Monti, Iowa, died on Tuesday morning, Nov. 23, 2021, at Lexington Estates in Independence.

Mass of Christian Burial: 10:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 29, 2021, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Monti, with the Rev. David Beckman and Deacon Tim Post officiating. Visitation: 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the Monti Community Hall in Monti, Iowa, and for one hour before the service at the church on Monday. 4th Degree Knights of Columbus Rosary: 2 p.m. Sunday at the Monti Community Hall. Parish Scripture Service: 5:30 p.m. Sunday at the Monti Community Hall. Military graveside service by the U.S. Army Honor Guard. Interment: St. Patrick's Catholic Cemetery, Monti, Iowa.

A memorial fund has been established for St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Monti. Condolences may be directed to Doris Jacobs, 1661 P Ave., Marengo, IA, 52301. Fawcett-Schmitz Funeral Home, Winthrop, is assisting the family. Online obituary at www.jamisonschmitzfuneralhome.com.

Vernon Joseph Gudenkauf was born Nov. 8, 1932, in Scotch Grove, Iowa, the son of Leo John and Marie Anna (Jaeger) Gudenkauf. He graduated from St. John's Catholic High School in Ryan. Vernon served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Vernon was united in marriage to Joan Elizabeth McGraw on June 8, 1955, at St. John's Catholic Church, Coggon, Iowa.

He was a lifetime farmer in the Buchanan and Delaware County area. Vernon was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Winthrop, and was a 3rd Degree Member of the Independence Knights of Columbus Council 4332 and a 4th Degree Member of the Manchester Knights of Columbus Council 2824. He enjoyed farming and flying private airplanes.

Survivors include Vernon's wife of 66 years, Joan Gudenkauf of Independence; son, Robert (Jan) Gudenkauf of Littleton; five daughters, Debra (Jerry) Brincks of Lidderdale, Doris (Paul) Jacobs of Marengo, Linda (Joe Drobnick) Gudenkauf of Bennett, Colo., Betty (Don) Hessseling of Waterloo and Tammy Gudenkauf of North Liberty; two daughters-in-law, Sharla Gudenkauf of Winthrop and Kim Gudenkauf of Coggon; 16 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; five siblings, Lois (Omer) Fortman of Manchester, Virginia (Phil) Kelchen of Monticello, Jeanette Steffen of Peosta, Janet (Bob) Pottebaum of Manchester and Richard (Sharon) Gudenkauf of Dyersville; and many nieces and nephews.

Vernon was preceded in death by his parents; two sons, Donald and James; and two sisters, Kathleen Hogan and Mary Hoeger.

Published in The Gazette on November 26, 2021.