Vernon Keith 'Hap' Sherman, 25 Feb 1928 - 23 Dec 2021

SHERMAN, SLAYMAKER, KELLER, KREZEK, HAUSER, SYKES, KINZENBAW, ROBERTS

Posted By: Sarah Witte (email)
Date: 12/30/2021 at 10:12:06

Vernon K. “Hap” Sherman, age 93, of Marengo, passed away Thursday, December 23, 2021 at the University of Iowa Hospital, in Iowa City. A Private family service will be held at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Marengo, with Rev. Andrew Gray officiating. Burial will be in the Marengo Cemetery. There will be a service for Vernon, with military honors, held April 23, 2022 at the Iowa County Freedom Rock at Gateway Park, in Marengo. Memorials may be contributed in Vernon’s name to St. John’s Lutheran Church, Marengo or the Iowa County Food Pantry, in care of Marjorie Sherman, 1220 Howard Ave., Marengo, Iowa 52301. Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo, is assisting the family with arrangements.

Vernon Keith Sherman was born February 25, 1928 at his Aunt Mabel’s house in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to Dewey and Mildred Slaymaker Sherman. Being a happy baby, he was given the nick name “Hap” at six months of age. Hap was the middle child of 9. He started school in a one room country school. In second grade, the family moved into Marengo, where he graduated in 1946. Hap participated in football, basketball and baseball.

Hap joined the Army in 1946 and attended Quartermaster School and became the company clerk in the Army of Occupation near Berlin, Germany. Among his duties doing the payroll was providing exercise and entertainment. This led to playing football in the Olympic Stadium in Berlin. Also starting in baseball and basketball. Hap also ordered movies for the troops. He was honorably discharged in 1948.

Hap was a walk on football player for the Iowa Hawkeyes. A knee injury ended that sport. After three years of college, he went to work at Amana Refrigeration in the summer and stayed for 35 years. He also played baseball for the Marengo town team. He met a school teacher, Marjorie Keller and they were married the following year on October 10, 1952, by Rev. Spitz at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Marengo. With help from their dad’s, they built their first home and were blessed with four sons.

After retiring from Amana, Hap kept busy enjoying family gatherings and friends. One of Hap’s volunteer jobs was helping raise money for the wooden playground at the Elementary School. He was on the Marengo Housing Board for 15 years. Hap also helped Marj with the Iowa county Food Bank during the eight years they had it in their basement. Hap was the driver when they helped deliver meals from the hospital. He also enjoyed playing golf where the highlight was getting a hole in one. Hap was an American Legion Post #76 member, a member of St. John’s Lutheran church and the last member left of the Henrick’s bowling team. This team would take their wives to Minnesota fishing at the end of their season. Hap was an Iowa Hawkeye fan and followed them and also the Chicago Cubs and Chicago Bears. They went to 49 states in their travels.

Hap’s family includes his wife Marjorie, his sons Daniel and Sue Krezek Sherman, David and Sheila Hauser Sherman, Dale and Debbie Sykes Sherman and Jon and Mindy Kinzenbaw Sherman; grandchildren, Jason and Shannon, Shane and Jenna, Keela and Jordan Roberts, Matthew and Jordan, Sarah, Rebecca, Dallas and Derek; great-grandchildren, Jordan Sue, Hayden, Dalton, Pressley, Lennon, Brayton, Kiara, Brennen, Kinzlee, Parker and David Patrick; a brother C. Richard and Carolyn Sherman; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents Dewey and Mildred; sisters, Lucille, Thelma, and Cleo; brothers, Leland, Earl, Russell and Lyle; and a granddaughter Mikayla Sherman on February 20, 2021.

Published on the Kloster Funeral Home website, an abbreviated version published in The Gazette on December 26, 2021 and in The Hometown Current on December 29, 2021.