Vernon Wayne Sanders

Vernon Wayne Sanders, son of Irwin and Anna (Kalma) Sanders, was born on Aug. 5, 1938, in Newton. Vernon died Oct. 23, 2013, at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines of pulmonary fibrosis.

Vernon graduated from Mingo High School in 1957 and went on to Simpson College for one year. He worked at John Deere Des Moines Works for 33 years, retiring in 1992.

Vernon was united in marriage to Judy Fuller on Aug. 8, 1958, and they were blessed with two daughters, Beverly and Deborah. Vernon married Judy Beem Maher on May 21, 1983, and welcomed her two children, Danette and Michael, into his family and loved them as his own. He was an outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing. He loved being at “the cabin” in the summer months and cruising around on the pontoon.  He enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren most of all. Vernon also had a niche for woodworking and made many special items.

Those left to honor Vernon’s memory are his wife of 30 years, Judy Sanders of Mingo; four children, Beverly (Bob) Grimes of St. Joseph, Mo., Deborah (Mark) Harre of Ankeny, Danette (Brian) Pease of Colfax and Mike (Kelli) Maher of Prairie City: nine grandchildren, Jake Harre, Justin Harre, Brook (Lisa) Maher, Brady Maher, Breanna Maher, Travis Pease, Trent Pease, Matt Grimes and Jimmy Grimes; and three great-grandchildren.

A funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 28, at the Wallace Family Funeral Home in Newton. The family will greet friends from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Memorials in Vernon’s name to be designated at a later date may be left at the funeral home.