Monday, December 21, 2020 10:12 pm
Vernon Spilde, age 94, of Decorah, IA, died on Sunday, December 20. 2020, at the Winneshiek Medical Center, in Decorah, IA.
A private family service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, December 26, 2020, at the Washington Prairie Lutheran Church, 1725 Washington Prairie Road, Decorah, IA, with Rev. Dr. Jennifer Edinger presiding. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
For those wishing to join remotely, the service will be live streamed on the Washington Prairie Facebook page: Facebook.com/washingtonprairie. You do not need a Facebook account to view.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent in memory of Vernon to: Washington Prairie Lutheran Church, 1725 Washington Prairie Rd, Decorah, IA 52101; 4H Winneshiek County Extension, (Clover Club), 325 Washington Street, Decorah, IA 52101 or Winneshiek County Home Health & Hospice, 901 Montgomery Street, Decorah, IA 52101, or the organization of your choice.
Vernon Lester Spilde was born on February 12, 1926, the son of Iver and Hilda (Bolson) Spilde in Decorah, IA. He attended Nordness grade school and graduated from Decorah High School. He was united in marriage to Kathryn Hovey on April 18, 1950, at the Orleans Lutheran Church, rural Ridgeway, IA. To this union, five children were born: Cheryl, Linda, Craig, Corinne and Diane. Vernon started as the County 4-H Youth Assistant in the spring of 1947 and moved to managing the Aase Haugen Farm in 1951. Later in September after Cheryl was born, he started at the college farm. He began selling Farm Bureau Insurance in 1955. In 1957 he was an owner/operator of a fuel delivery truck for Farm Service until he returned to manage the college farm in 1961. When Luther stopped operating their own land, Vernon transferred to the grounds maintenance manager position. He was known for his work making the baseball and softball diamonds look immaculate. He and Kathryn attended almost every sporting event around Decorah. They especially enjoyed attending Luther women’s softball and basketball games. Vernon served 14 years on the fair board and followed that in 1990 with 6 years as Winneshiek County fair manager. He clerked the 4-H livestock auction for fifty-five years. He also was a long-term treasurer for Washington Prairie Lutheran Church. Vernon was awarded with many 4-H awards including the State 4-H Hall of Fame and was recognized by Luther College in 2016 for his accomplishments. He stayed active his whole life and always said “I’d rather wear out than rust out”. Vernon and Kathryn enjoyed camping and square dancing in their younger years.
He is survived by his children: Craig (Jeanette) Spilde, Decorah, IA; Corinne (Mark) Brase, Fairfield, IA; and Diane Smock, Bellevue, NE. Grandchildren: Mallory (Matt Cefalu) Dignin, Stephen (Shana) Dignin, Aubrey (Brent) Miller, Erica Spilde, Daniel (Beth) Brase, Michelle (Allan) Hines, Nicholas (Marissa) Smock, and Amber (Zach) Ryan. Great grandchildren: Madeline, Megan and Micah Brase, Hunter and Hilda Hines, Hank and Wade Ryan, Linnea and Maren Miller, Ainsley and Berringer Smock. Sisters-in-law: Roseann Hovey, Arvada, CO and Barb Spilde, Moorhead, MN. Son-in-law: Mike (Cheryl Skrypez) Dignin, Little Canada, MN.
Vernon was preceded in death by his wife: Kathryn Spilde in 2014. Daughters: Linda Spilde, in infancy, and Cheryl Dignin. Great granddaughter: Emma Brase in infancy. Parents: Iver and Hilda (Bolson) Spilde. Brother: Roger Spilde. Father and mother-in-law: Philip and Hannah (Hanson) Hovey. Brothers-in-law: Harlan (Norma) Hovey, Maynard (Colleen) Hovey, Philip (Rose) Hovey and Ken Hovey. Sisters-in-law: Wilma (Galin) Barth, Phyllis Hovey in infancy and Carol Hovey in infancy.
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