1933
Vernon
2010
Vernon Sickle
February 27, 1933 — November 17, 2010
Vernon "Jack" Van Sickle, 77, of Eldora, passed away on Wednesday, November 17, 2010, at his home in Eldora. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 21, 2010, at the South Hardin High School Auditorium in Eldora with Pastor Corey Larson officiating. Interment will be held privately by the family.
Born on February 27, 1933, in Jefferson, Iowa, to Ira and Myrtle (Schlieman) Van Sickle, Jack was the youngest of four children. He grew up on the family farm near Jefferson and graduated from Cooper High School.
Jack and Beverly "Hap" Kinder were united in marriage on January 6, 1954, in Perry, Iowa. The family then relocated to Colorado Springs, CO, while Jack served in the U.S. Army. After his discharge, Jack moved his family to Eldora, where he began working at the Iowa State Training School for Boys in 1957 as a gardener. While working at the school, he earned his teaching degree from the University of Pennsylvania and completed graduate work at Iowa State University. After several years of teaching vocational agriculture, Jack became the vocational principal at the Training School and created competency-based curricula for several vocational programs. Because of his expertise in working with delinquent youth, he was appointed by Governor Ray to the Governor's Youth Council on which he served for several years. An influential educator, Jack had a significant impact on the lives of the many students with whom he interacted. He retired from the Iowa State Training School in 1995 after 38 years of service.
Jack was a member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Eldora, a fifty-year member of Montague Masonic Lodge #117, and a member of the American Legion-Walter-Sayer Post #182. His involvement with his church and his ongoing commitment to the work of the Masonic Lodge were among his greatest passions. In addition to that, Jack was an avid fisherman, played league softball in his "younger" days, and was an enthusiastic supporter of local high school athletics. He was also blessed with wonderful neighbors and friends in the community who were among the greatest gifts in his life.
Jack is survived by his children Cheryl (William) Cox of Ottumwa, IA, Don Kinder of Marshalltown, IA and Myra (Ron) Huff of Fort Worth, TX; grandchildren Lynne Wollenhaupt of West Des Moines, Justin (Cari) Kinder of Akron, OH, Brett (Abby) Cakerice of Minneapolis, MN, Kendra (Cory) Knop of Austin, TX and Susan McNamer of Des Moines; great-grandchildren Xavier Kinder, Adley Knop, Brooke and Brice McNamer, and Alexa Huff; brother Harold Van Sickle of Idaho. Jack was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Beverly "Hap" Van Sickle, who passed away in 2002; sister Betta (Bud) Rich and brother Carl (Lois) Van Sickle; sister-in-law Florine Van Sickle.
Memorials may be made to the First Congregational United Church of Christ, 1209 12th St., Eldora, IA 50627, to the Montague Masonic Lodge #117, 1305 23rd Ave., Eldora, IA 50627 or to the Kirk Cakerice Educational Scholarship Fund c/o the Hardin Co. Savings Bank in Eldora.
Born on February 27, 1933, in Jefferson, Iowa, to Ira and Myrtle (Schlieman) Van Sickle, Jack was the youngest of four children. He grew up on the family farm near Jefferson and graduated from Cooper High School.
Jack and Beverly "Hap" Kinder were united in marriage on January 6, 1954, in Perry, Iowa. The family then relocated to Colorado Springs, CO, while Jack served in the U.S. Army. After his discharge, Jack moved his family to Eldora, where he began working at the Iowa State Training School for Boys in 1957 as a gardener. While working at the school, he earned his teaching degree from the University of Pennsylvania and completed graduate work at Iowa State University. After several years of teaching vocational agriculture, Jack became the vocational principal at the Training School and created competency-based curricula for several vocational programs. Because of his expertise in working with delinquent youth, he was appointed by Governor Ray to the Governor's Youth Council on which he served for several years. An influential educator, Jack had a significant impact on the lives of the many students with whom he interacted. He retired from the Iowa State Training School in 1995 after 38 years of service.
Jack was a member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Eldora, a fifty-year member of Montague Masonic Lodge #117, and a member of the American Legion-Walter-Sayer Post #182. His involvement with his church and his ongoing commitment to the work of the Masonic Lodge were among his greatest passions. In addition to that, Jack was an avid fisherman, played league softball in his "younger" days, and was an enthusiastic supporter of local high school athletics. He was also blessed with wonderful neighbors and friends in the community who were among the greatest gifts in his life.
Jack is survived by his children Cheryl (William) Cox of Ottumwa, IA, Don Kinder of Marshalltown, IA and Myra (Ron) Huff of Fort Worth, TX; grandchildren Lynne Wollenhaupt of West Des Moines, Justin (Cari) Kinder of Akron, OH, Brett (Abby) Cakerice of Minneapolis, MN, Kendra (Cory) Knop of Austin, TX and Susan McNamer of Des Moines; great-grandchildren Xavier Kinder, Adley Knop, Brooke and Brice McNamer, and Alexa Huff; brother Harold Van Sickle of Idaho. Jack was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Beverly "Hap" Van Sickle, who passed away in 2002; sister Betta (Bud) Rich and brother Carl (Lois) Van Sickle; sister-in-law Florine Van Sickle.
Memorials may be made to the First Congregational United Church of Christ, 1209 12th St., Eldora, IA 50627, to the Montague Masonic Lodge #117, 1305 23rd Ave., Eldora, IA 50627 or to the Kirk Cakerice Educational Scholarship Fund c/o the Hardin Co. Savings Bank in Eldora.
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