Obituary of Vernon Voss

A funeral service will be held Thursday June 22, 2017 at 10:30 AM at United Methodist Church in Spirit Lake. Burial will be at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Spirit Lake. Visitation will be on Wednesday, June 21st from 5:00-7:00PM at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. There will be a Masonic Service at 7:15 PM. Vernon Rudolph Voss, 92, of Spirit Lake, Iowa passed away on Sunday, June 18, 2017 at Hawkeye Care Center in Milford, Iowa. Vernon was born on May 30, 1925 to Rudolph and Hilda Voss in Sioux Valley, Minnesota. Vernon graduated from Sioux Valley High School in 1944. In October of the same year he enlisted in the United States Army where he served in the Philippines and Japan. He earned the Good Conduct, Victory Medal, Asiatic Pacific Medal with Bronze Star, Combat Infantry Badge, Philippine Liberation Medal with Bronze Star and Army of Occupation Medal. After being honorably discharged in December of 1946, he attended the University of Minnesota until his father requested he return home to the farm. On June 13, 1948, he married the love of his life, Ellen Jansen in the Lake Park Presbyterian Church. After 40 years of farming they retired to "The Harbor" in Spirit Lake, Iowa. They enjoyed their home and life on the lake for over 25 years and 18 years of wintering in Mission, Texas. Vernon served his community well by serving on many boards. He was a charter member of the American Legion Post #614. He was a founding member of the Jackson County Soil Conservation Board. A member of the Sioux Valley School Board, First State Bank Board, Jackson County Selective Service Board, Jackson County Fair Board, Farm Bureau, Golden Kiwanis and the Masonic Twilight Lodge. Vernon was a member of the Methodist Church in Lakefield and in Spirit Lake, where he enjoyed singing in the choir. He also enjoyed singing with the Windom Chordhustlers. Woodworking, fishing, light bantering and attending Golden Kiwanis activities were his favorite pastimes. A major highlight in his life was in October 2010 when he was given the opportunity to go to Washington D.C. with the Southwest Minnesota Honor Flight. He is survived by his four children, Susan (Doug) Pohlman of Lakefield, MN, Julie (Mark) Dillehay of Lake Park, IA, Debra (Greg) Crisman of Lakefield, MN and Jeffrey (Kathy) Voss of Jackson, MN; fifteen grandchildren and twenty great-grandchildren. Vernon was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Ellen; his parents; brother, Virgil; sister, Vernetta Cranston and one great-grandchild.