Vern R. Stewart
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Vern R. Stewart, age 87 of Crofton, Nebraska, died on Saturday, November 5, 2011 at the Avera Sister James Care Center in Yankton, South Dakota.

Funeral Services will be on Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at 10:30 am at the United Church of Christ in Crofton with Pastor Les Parmenter officiating. Burial will be in the Crofton City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Tuesday with a Prayer Service at 7:00 pm followed by a Yankton Elks Lodge 994 Service at the Wintz Funeral Home in Crofton. Visitation will begin one hour prior to services on Wednesday at the church. To send online condolences, or to view the video tribute, please visit www.wintzrayfuneralhome.com . Memorials are preferred to the Elks Lodge #994 in Yankton or the United Church of Christ in Crofton.

Honorary Pallbearers will be his grandchildren, Melanie Stewart, Patrick Stewart, Allison Stewart, Emily Stewart and Daniel Stewart.

Pallbearers will be Doug Engebretson, Gary Pease, Roger Smith, Rick Stewart, Dale Zimmerman and Dean Zimmerman.

Vern was born on April 4, 1924 at Addison Community, Nebraska to Robert W. and Hilda (Olson) Stewart. When asked his birthday he enjoyed saying "four, four, twenty-four". He lived in the Addison Community where he attended school through the 7th grade. In 1938 they moved to the 2 Bar Ranch and he finished 8th grade at Herrick. Vern married Eloise Shanek on June 10, 1952 at Yankton, South Dakota. In 1955 they moved to their current farm place northwest of Crofton. Throughout the 1960's and 70's they bought nearby land to increase the size of their farm. He raised corn, sorghum, oats and alfalfa and raised cattle, hogs and chickens. He never shied away from manual labor and even built his own machine shed. Vern enjoyed hunting, trapping and fishing. He belonged to the United Church of Christ in Crofton and was a former council member. He was a former member of the Herrick Township Board and was a member of the National Farmers Organization. He was a 50 year member of the Elks Lodge #994 in Yankton.

Vern is survived by his wife, Eloise of Yankton; 2 sons and their wives, Mike and Diane Stewart of Phillips, Nebraska; Kelly and Deb Stewart of Norfolk, Nebraska; 4 grandchildren, Melanie Stewart of Omaha; Patrick Stewart and his wife Allison of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Daniel Stewart of Norfolk, Emily Stewart of Norfolk; 2 sisters, Evelyn Zimmerman of Yankton; Lucille Engebretson of Council Bluffs, Iowa; a brother, Richard and Eileen Stewart of Crofton; a sister in law, Ella Mae Shanek of Niobrara, Nebraska; and a brother in law and sister in law, Don and Hannelore Shanek of Castroville, California and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Lola Smith on October 29, 2011, 5 brothers in law, Russ Engebretson, Raymond Smith, Elmer Zimmerman, Woody Pease, Jack Shanek and a sister in law Willa Dean Pease.

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The Stewart Family is in my Thoughts and Prayers Joe Guenther Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of you. Dave & Shelley Kruse and family My sympathy to Eloise and the family from an old neighbor Connie (Fiscus) Delvaux I just discovered Vern's obituary online and wanted to send my love along with this note. Vern was quite the trooper and fought valiantly to live on through much adversity. I know he had a good "nurse" in your daily visits to his bedside. I'm sure he lived longer because of his love for you and the boys. May God bless this new year with hope and the same kind of love Vern lived, taught to his sons and shared with you! He will be missed. Blessings upon you and your family, Rev. Rick Pittenger, Vermillion, SD

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