Vernon Dale Stolen Sr. 1929 - 2014

STOLEN, KLUSENDORF, BANG

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 10/31/2014 at 17:35:01

Sioux City Journal
31 October 2014

SIOUX CITY | Vernon Dale Stolen Sr., 85, of Sioux City was called home on Oct. 27, 2014 at Community Memorial Health Center in Hartley, Iowa, where he recently resided.

Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Luke Lutheran Church in Sioux City, with the Rev. Jay Denne officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present at 6 p.m. and a Masonic service at 7 p.m., at Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Homes. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.christysmith.com.

Vernon was born on June 11, 1929, in Madison, Wis., the son of Torris and Viola (Klusendorf) Stolen.

Vernon was united in marriage with the love of his life, Muriel Bang on Sept. 2, 1950, in Sioux City. They also knew each other growing up, as both families moved from Wisconsin to Sioux City in 1939. The couple was blessed with two children, Vernon "Scoot" Jr. and Lynette. He also cherished is grandsons, Colton and his wife, Megan Gable, Preston and his wife, Amber Gable, Thurston Gable and his great-granddaughter, McKenzee Gable.

Vern worked at Creighton Brown Gas Station in Morningside during his high school years. He also helped with the family business, Midwest Electric Inc. which sold wind chargers to rural farms; he climbed the towers to fix the wind chargers. He joined the 185th Tactical Fighter Air Guard in December 1950, and was called into active duty in April 1951 to serve in the U.S. Air Force. He was stationed in Bangor, Maine, and Alexandria, La. He proudly served our country in the military for three years. Following his discharge, he went to work as a meat grader for Swift Company in Sioux City and later joined the family business, Midwest Electric which was owned by his father and father-in-law. When rural electricity became available, the business switched from wind chargers to become an Amana appliance distributor in 1949. He traveled many years as a salesman and then became part owner of the business. They were an Amana appliance distributor for more than 50 years. Vern loved spending time with his grandsons, his family, and at their lake home.

Vern was a current member of the board of directors of Pinnacle Bank, formerly Morningside Bank & Trust; he served 39 years starting in 1975. He was a 50-plus year member of the Morningside Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite and Abu Bekr Shrine. He was a lifetime member of the Sergeant Bluff American Legion and a member St. Luke Lutheran Church, where he served on numerous boards and committees over the years.

Vern was a man of integrity, always such a caring and giving person, an honest businessman, and he had a wonderful sense of humor. He cared for his wife Muriel when her health declined, and was such a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He was the man you went to for advice and guidance. He never complained and was a role model to so many.

Left to cherish his memory are his daughter, Lynette and her husband, Stan Gable of rural Hartley; grandsons, Colton Gable and his wife, Megan of rural Hartley, Preston Gable and his wife, Amber of rural Ames, Iowa, and Thurston Gable of Ames; a great-granddaughter, McKenzee Gable of rural Hartley; sister, Joyce Burdick, San Antonio, Texas; brothers and their wives, Fred and Mildred Stolen of Sioux City, and Roger and Joan Stolen of Sergeant Bluff; and many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Muriel in 2008; and his son, Vernon "Scoot" in 2011.

Special thanks to his grandniece, Elise, and great-grandniece, Kearah, who spent many evenings with him as his health declined. Kearah helped brighten his world as his dementia worsened with her youthful fun. Thank you to family and friends who helped make it possible for Vernon to stay at home up until these last few months before moving to Hartley. The family would also like to thank the staff at Community Memorial Health Center in Hartley for all the thoughtful and loving care they gave to Vernon.

He has been called home, our memories live on and he will never be forgotten