Verne was born October 19,1944 in Fremont Nebraska, and moved to Grand Island when he was 6 months old. His dad got a job at Taylor’s Ranch feeding cattle and Verne said “according to mom, we lived in the back of the Taylor’s general store, there was my bassinet, a dresser, and a bed for my parents, and mom cleaned the store at night.”
Verne started school at Lincoln grade school from there went to Walnut Jr High School and then to Grand Island Senior High and graduated in 1963.
In March of 1964, Verne joined the US Army and went to basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. AIT at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and then went to Germany where he was in the 1st Battalion 34th Infantry, 24th Infantry Division. He was in a mechanical Infantry and he was the senior recovery mechanic for 30 months. He served for 36 months and left the Army with a SP5-E5 Rank in 1967.
Verne met his future wife at a dance in April of 1968, they were engaged in July of 1968 and married on October 5, 1968. His wife passed away 5 days before their 53rd anniversary. Together Verne and his wife raised 3 beautiful children, 1 boy and 2 girls, they now have 7 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. Verne retired December 31, 2010 and spends his time as captain of the UNVC Honor Guard and also doing work in his shop at home.
Verne was very proud to have been married to a beautiful woman for 53 years and also is proud of their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
For the last 30 years of working along with his wife, they managed real estate and rental properties here in Grand Island and he says “I must say, I don't miss it at any time.”
In their 53 years of marriage, Verne and his wife loved to dance and even won some contests. They were always complimented on their dancing and were blessed to pass it on by teaching their children how to dance as well. Verne says “My deceased wife is now teaching the Angels how to dance”
After their retirement, Verne and his wife took a road trip to Alaska, and Verne said “what an amazing trip it was!” Then 3 years later they took another road trip from Nebraska to the East Coast, then across the nation to the West Coast……They traveled from East to West and North to South. Both trips took them 45 days each. Verne says at the end …….. What a wonderful life.
