Vernon E. Awes, age 85, of Madison, Wis., passed away on Dec. 10, 2017, at St. Mary’s Hospital with his family by his side. He was born on Jan. 26, 1932, in San Diego, the son of Frizhoff and Lucille (Roy) Awes.
Vernon graduated from Winona High School and was the president of his senior class. During his high school years he was a member of the wrestling team and was the state runner up in wrestling. He was just elected to Winona wrestling hall of fame. Vernon also enjoyed singing and was a member of Sonny Songsters quartet who placed second in the state talent show. At Luther College he was a three-year letter winner in wrestling, and captain of the wrestling team. He sang with the Luther Nordic Choir.
On July 1, 1956, he married Marlys (Anderson) Awes ‘55, and in 1959, Vernon graduated from Luther Seminary and was ordained a Lutheran minister. Together as life partners of 60 years, Vern and Marlys served parishes in Esmond, N.D., Spring Grove, Minn., and then he became a U.S. Navy Chaplain where he served at Camp Lejeune, N.C., Seattle, Wash., and Patuxent River, Md. In addition, he served a 13-month tour with the U.S. Marines in Vietnam and was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. In total, Vernon served eight years active duty and another 20 years of active reserve and retired as a U.S. Navy Captain.
Upon retiring, he served at Trinity Lutheran Church in Madison, Hope Lutheran in McFarland, three-Point Parish in Cross Plains and Black Earth, and was a missionary in Guam. During their travels, Vern and Marlys collected over 400 nativities from all over the world. Vern was a caring and gentle person whose life was about serving others. What made him special was that he related to people, and accepted people for who they were. He was genuinely interested in others and had a special gift of making people feel good about themselves. Vern put his faith in God and family first.
Vernon is survived by his sons, Phillip and Timothy (Catherine); grandchildren, Adrianna, Marina and Aristotle Awes; brother, Melvyn (Sue) Awes; brothers-in-law, Paul (Cheryl) Anderson and Peter (Diane) Anderson; sisters-in-law, Pam Sadlo and Laurie Fossa; and many nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Marlys (Anderson) Awes ‘55; son, Stephen Awes; parents; brothers, Robert (Janice) Awes and Kenneth (Theresa) Awes; and father and mother-in-law, Wendell and Marjorie Anderson.
Funeral services were held at HOPE LUTHERAN CHURCH, 3702 County Highway AB, McFarland, on Dec. 16, 2017, with the Rev. Beth Schultz-Byrnes presiding. Burial was at Hope Cottage Grove Cemetery.
Memorials may be given to Hope Lutheran Church, McFarland, St. James Lutheran Church, Verona, or your local Alzheimer’s Association: www.alzwisc.org or ALS Association: www.alsawi.org.
The family would like to give a special thank you to the caregivers at Heritage Monona. Also to the doctors and nurses at St. Mary’s Hospital ER and ICU units who provided great care for Vern.
Dad and grandpa liked to say “Joy to the world,” “See you round like a donut,” “This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it,” “Mange tusen takk.”