Vernon Zanker

June 28, 1936 - November 28, 2015

Vernon L. Zanker, 79, of 239 T Avenue in Boone, Iowa passed at Israel Family Hospice in Ames, Iowa on Saturday morning, November 28, 2015. He was born on June 28, 1936 in Boone, Iowa the son of Ralph and Martha (Shockley) Zanker. Vernon graduated from Jordan High School in 1954 and married his classmate, Jane Wight on December 23, 1955. He served in the Navy on board the USS Navasota as a personnel man second class, and was a Naval recruiter at San Bernardino, California until the end of his enlistment, receiving an honorable discharge in 1958. Vernon was classified as an Atomic and Korean War veteran and was entitled to wear the Korean Service, China Service, National Defense and Good Conduct Service medals. On May 9, 2015, he went on the Bushy Creek Area Honor Flight, which was the most memorable and emotional flight of his life. Vernon farmed in Boone County from 1958 until 1999. After retiring from farming, he drove grain semi-trucks for West Central CO-OP and area farmers for 15 years, read meters for 8 years for Midland Power Company and was a salesman for Garst Seed Company. He was a member of the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in rural Boone, having served as a trustee, an elder and on the finance board. Vernon was a past commander of the American Legion; was a life member of the American Legion and VFW; was a member of the Boone Veterans Council, participating in many military funerals; was a 4-H leader; served 2 terms on the Boone County Fair board and served 3 terms on the Boone County FSA County Committee. His parents; an infant daughter, Sharon; and a great-grandson, Connor preceded him in death. Survivors include his wife Jane of 59 years; a son and daughter-in-law Clayton and Nila Zanker of Stanhope, Iowa; 2 daughters and a son-in-law, Debra and Kenneth Shafer of Ames, Iowa and Karla Zanker in Leawood, Kansas; 4 grandsons, Garren and Cara Zanker of Carlisle, Iowa, Ryan and Josie Zanker of Monticello, Iowa, Wesley and Shaunna Zanker of Stanhope, Iowa, and Gregory and Joy of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; 2 granddaughters, Sara Brown of Shawnee, Kansas and Emily Shafer of West Des Moines, Iowa; 6 great-grandsons, Brady, Jackson, Trevor, Zachary,Patrick and Laken; 3 great-granddaughters, Hailey, Kayley and Abbey; 2 brothers, Kenneth Zanker and Mary of Cumming, Iowa and Daryl Zanker and Judy of Murray, Nebraska; 1 sister Carol Forster and Glenn of Boone, Iowa; nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held on Thursday morning, December 3rd at 10:30 a.m. at the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 295 Spruce Lane, northeast Boone County with Rev. Michael Standfest officiating. Interment with full military honors and presentation of the flag conducted by the Boone Veterans Council, will be held at 1:30 p.m. at the Linwood Park Cemetery in Boone. A visitation will be held on Wednesday, December 2nd at the Stark-Welin Chapel in Boone from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with the family present from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. to greet friends. Visitations will continue at the Church on Thursday morning from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service at 10:30 a.m.. In Vern’s memory, memorials be be given to the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church or the family.