Billiet, Vernon Joseph 1931-2007
BILLIET, BUYSSE, HAYWOOD, LEMASTER, SACQUITNE, BLACKERT, PLUNKETT
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 8/14/2012 at 13:58:31
Vernon J. Billiet, age 75, of Decorah, Iowa, died Thursday, March 8, 2007 at Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah following a long illness.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 2:30 P.M. Monday, March 12, 2007 at St. Benedict Catholic Church in Decorah by Rev. Gary F. Krapfl, with burial in the church cemetery.
Friends may call from 4:00-7:00 P.M. Sunday, March 11, 2007 at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah, where there will be a parish scripture service held at 6:00 P.M. Sunday. Friends may also call until 2:00 P.M. Monday at the funeral home.
Vernon Joseph Billiet was born December 29, 1931 in East Moline, Illinois, the son of Louis and Marguerite (Buysse) Billiet. He graduated from St. Joseph’s Catholic High School in Rock Island, Illinois with the Class of 1949.
Vern was united in marriage to Grace Marie Haywood on July 21, 1951 at St. Anne’s Catholic Church in East Moline, Illinois. This union was blessed with four children: Debra, Gary, Pamela and Kimberly.
Vern began his career working for the Goodyear Tire Company in Moline, Illinois and several other communities prior to moving to Decorah. He partnered with W. R. “Dick” Schuman to operate Decorah Tire Service beginning in August 1964.
Vern was a member of St. Benedict Catholic Church where he served on the church council and was a Eucharistic minister. His other memberships included St. Benedict Council of the Knights of Columbus, Decorah Lions Club, Decorah Chamber of Commerce where he served on the Board of Directors, the Silvercrest Golf and Country Club and its Board of Directors, Oneota Golf and Country Club and the Board of Directors at the Aase Haugen Home.
Vern was a very intelligent, kind, gentle, honest, and religious man. He loved to smile and his beautiful brown eyes would twinkle. He was admired for his quiet demeanor and witty sense of humor. Family and close friends thought of him “as our own Johnny Carson.” His other interests included traveling, bowling, boating, skiing, dancing, singing, playing cards and best of all, playing golf. He loved his work and treated his customers as friends. He was full of life and his smile will truly be missed by all!
Vern became a resident of the Barthell Eastern Star Nursing Home in May 2004.
Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Grace, of Decorah; four children and their spouses, Deb and Mike Lemaster of Fayetteville, Arkansas, Gary and Pat Billiet of Decorah, Pam and Jim Sacquitne of Appleton, Wisconsin and Kim and Kevin Blackert of Orion, Illinois; eleven grandchildren, Jordan, Logan and Lauren Lemaster, Brady, Breann and Kiley Billiet, Ben and Nick Sacquitne and Eric, Mitchel and Rachel Blackert; his sister, Carolyn and Mike Plunkett of Long Boat Key, Florida and his brother, Duane and Pat Billiet of Los Altos, California.
Vern was preceded in death by his parents.
Memorials may be directed to Winneshiek Medical Center Hospice, 907 Montgomery Street, Decorah, Iowa 52101 or the Barthell Eastern Star Nursing Home, 911 Ridgewood Drive, Decorah, Iowa 52101
The family would like to extend special thanks to the staff at the Barthell Eastern Star Nursing Home and Winneshiek Medical Center for the loving care they provided for Vern.
Source: Fjelstul Funeral Home database
St. Benedict’s Catholic cemetery
Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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