Vernon Ray VanderLeest
Vernon Ray VanderLeest
Vernon Ray VanderLeest
April 5, 1929 – March 21, 2018
Grinnell (Montezuma), Iowa | Age 88
Served With Honor ~ United States Military Veteran
Vernon VanderLeest, 88, of Grinnell and formerly of Montezuma passed away Wednesday morning, March 21, 2018 at the Grinnell Regional Medical Center. He left this earth with his cousin, Andrew Dunnick of the Brooklyn Nursing Home, who passed away the same time as Vernon.
Vernon Ray VanderLeest, the son of Neal and Mary (Ver Steegt) VanderLeest, was born on April 5, 1929 in Jasper Co., Iowa.
Vernon enlisted with the United States Army in 1951. He proudly served his country with the 25th Infantry and served in Korea at Old Baldie, Pork Chop Hill & Heartbreak Ridge. He was honorably discharged in the winter of 1952.
On February 26, 1956, Vernon was united in marriage to Janice Busby at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. To this union three children were born: Vernon Dean, Marty Ray and Connie Sue.
Vernon drove a truck for 30 plus years for National By Products. He also worked evenings part time for Marvin Ramsey’s Texaco Gas Station for a few years. Following his retirement, he drove cars for Vannoy Chevrolet for several years.
Vernon moved to Windsor Manor in Grinnell five years ago and started going to the First Baptist Church in Grinnell.
Vernon and Janice loved to travel with their family. In the Fall, they enjoyed taking trips along the Mississippi River going to the different lock and dams as well as enjoying the beautiful Fall colors. In 1985, they enjoyed a Bernice Ryan Bus Tour to Nashville, TN to Fan Fair which they enjoyed meeting different stars, singing and making new friends. After Janice passed away, he still took road trips in his purple Geo Metro.
Vernon was a proud veteran and was a member of the VFW Post 8876 and was excited to be a part of the Jasper County Freedom Flight.
Vernon is survived by his three children: Vernon (& Karla) VanderLeest of Grinnell, Marty VanderLeest of West Des Moines and Connie VanderLeest of Montezuma; three grandchildren: Brett (& Angie) VanderLeest of Grinnell, Emily (& Jim) Lahart of Ankeny and Amanda (& Brad) Sanders of Grinnell; four great grandchildren, plus one on the way: Nathan VanderLeest, Grant Lahart, Jamison Lahart, Levi Sanders and Baby Lahart; three sisters: Dorothy Lane of Grinnell, Helen (& Fred) Schmidt of Sully and Evelyn Roll of Colfax; two sisters-in-law: Doris VanderLeest of Grinnell and Jane Audas of Montezuma; and one brother-in-law, Melvin Busby of Long Beach, California; a special friend, Hillard Turner Jr.; and many nieces, nephews and many friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Janice on August 20, 1995; one great grandson, Greyson Dean Lahart; his siblings: Walt (& Irene) VanderLeest, Jim (& Artie) VanderLeest, Cliff (& Ruth) VanderLeest, Lester VanderLeest, Cora (& Gerrit) Van Wyk, Wilma (& Bill) Van Genderen, Viola VanderLeest, his twin brother – Verlan VanderLeest, and Robert VanderLeest; two brothers-in-law, Everett “Brick” Lane and Ronald Roll.
Funeral services will begin at 11:00 am Wednesday, March 28, 2018 at the Holland-Coble Funeral Home in Montezuma.
Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
Burial will be held in the Pleasant Township Cemetery in Ewart.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the VFW Post 8876 of Montezuma, Lynnville Wagaman Mill or the First Baptist Church of Grinnell.
