Vernon L. Cole

MC COOK LAKE, S.D. -- Vernon L. Cole, 90, of Mc Cook Lake died Friday, Nov. 11, 2011, at Well Life Assisted Living in Elk Point, S.D., after a short illness. Services will be 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2011 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Sioux City, with the Rev. Gerald Feierfeil officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, with military rites conducted by the Iowa Army National Guard. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m., and a vigil service at 7 p.m., at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Condolences may be sent online to www.meyerbroschapels.com. Vernon was born Feb. 21, 1921, in Sioux City, the son of Gordon and Barbara (Schafer) Cole. He grew up in Sioux City and graduated from Central High School. He married Marie Hynes in 1941. They had two daughters together before she passed away in 1945. Vernon married June D. Levering on Aug. 31, 1946 in Sioux City. Together they had four children. She passed away Jan. 14, 2011, in Sioux City. While in high school, Vernon began working for Armour & Co. He served in the U.S. Army as a paratrooper during World War II. After the war, he returned to Sioux City and worked as a billing and sales clerk for Armour & Co. for more than 40 years. Vernon was a member of St. Boniface Catholic Church for many years. He was an avid sportsman and enjoyed hunting and fishing. He played baseball for the Homer, Neb., town team for several years. Survivors include four daughters, Barbara Steeg and her husband, Gary of Elk Point, S.D., Geraldine Moffatt and her husband, Lyle of Sioux City, Susan Justice and her husband, Albert Jr. of Burleson, Texas, and Tracey Miller of Alexandra, Minn.; 16 grandchildren; 45 great-grandchildren; and 10 great-great-grandchildren. Vernon was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Marie Hynes; two sons, Vernon A. Cole and Terry Lee Cole; one sister, Evelyn Levering; three brothers, Gene, Gerald and Lowell; and his beloved wife, June, in January of 2011. Pallbearers will be Scott and Brett Moffatt, Tim and Corey Trudeau, Jeff Fuchs, Larry Bowman, Paul Dicks and Don Harsma.