Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Minkley, Vern H. March 12, 2010 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Nan Wheaton wheaton1624@yahoo.com September 14, 2013, 1:57 am Ionia Sentinel-Standard - Wed. March 17, 2010 LaVerne Horton Minkley passed away on Friday, March 12, 2010, at the age of 98. Vern was our very special husband, father, grandpa, and great grandpa. His talents and love of family will be missed and cherished. Vern was born Sept. 13, 1911, in Fowlerville, son of E.G. and Alta (Horton) Minkley. He was preceded in death by his wife of 71 years, Marian. He is survived by children, Chuck (Pam), Portland, Richard (Carolyn), Naples, Fla. and Virginia (Ken) Christensen, Portland; grandchildren, Scott Minkley, Sue (Rich) Greenhoe, Doug Christensen, Andrea (Brian) Gruber, Nicole Minkley; and 11 great grandchildren. Vern graduated from Fowlerville High School and Michigan Agricultural College (MSU) in 1934, having received a vocal scholarship and music education degree. Throughout his college years he played sax and trumpet in dance bands, and the Spartan Marching Band. He married his favorite dance partner and fellow Fowlerville grad, Marian Peterson on May 28, 1938. In January 1939, they purchased the Ford dealership in Portland, with Wayne Peterson. In 1956, he began a long real estate career in Portland. Vern was boar administrator and choir director of the Portland United Methodist Church for many years. His musical talents led to Civic Player involvements, local bands, and even a family band. Vern was president of the Portland Kiwanis and the Chamber of Commerce and active with real estate boards. They built a cottage at Gun Lake in 1945, which provided many summers of family fun. In 1973, they became residents of Naples, Fla., loving their life of boating and fishing near the Gulf. Vern continued his real estate career in Maples until 2000. His gentleman, kindness, love of life, and his lifelong love of family and fellowship will be forever in our hearts as a worthy example to be followed by his loving family. Memorial Services for Marian and Vern will be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 3, 2010, at the Portland United Methodist Church. Burial will be at Naples Memorial Gardens, Naples, Fla., with his wife Marian who passed away on Dec. 20, 2009. If desired, memorial contributions may be made to the Portland United Methodist Church. Arrangements are entrusted to the Schrauben-Lehman Funeral Homes, Portland. Online condolences may be made at www.schraubenlehman.com. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/m/minkley22422nob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mifiles/ File size: 2.9 Kb