Vernon Ellickson

Vernon Ellickson, age 92, of Decorah, Iowa, died on Sunday, December 2, 2007, at his home following a lingering illness. Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday December 8, 2007 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Locust, with Rev. Gene Hermeier officiating. Burial will be in the Union Prairie Cemetery at a later date. Friends may call from 2:00 – 6:00 Friday at Schluter Balik Funeral Home in Decorah. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in memory of Vern to the Vern Ellickson Memorial Fund or to the Decorah Public Library. Vernon Emick Ellickson was born on October 23, 1915, the son of Emick and Lettie (Thorson) Ellickson in Decorah, Iowa. Vern attended country school and then graduated from Decorah High School in 1933. Vern met Dorothy Frey at a dance, at the Inwood Ballroom in Spillville, Iowa. They were married on November 21, 1938, at the Congregational Church in Fort Atkinson, Iowa. Together they farmed near Decorah, Ridgeway, Granger, MN and in 1960, they moved to their present farm. Vern was proud to be a lifelong farmer and a Democrat. Vern was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Locust and was a past member of the Church Council. Vern also served as the Pleasant Township Trustee for many years. He and Dorothy loved to dance and spent many nights dancing at local ballrooms. Vern enjoyed playing cards, fishing, deer hunting, canning, gardening, and he loved to read. He was fortunate to have the ability to retain and remember what he had read many years ago. Vern’s survivors include his wife, Dorothy Ellickson, Decorah, IA. One daughter: Amy Ryan, Decorah, IA. Three sons: Alan (Sue) Ellickson, Decorah, IA, Lee (Jean) Ellickson, Streamwood, IL, and Glen (Darla) Ellickson, Decorah, IA. Thirteen grandchildren: Dale (Jody) Ellickson, Tammy (Curt ) Balk, Shane (Teresa) Ellickson, Daniel Ellickson, Lee (Chris) Ellickson, Jr., Lynn (Nate) Oldenburg, Tom(Deirdre) Ryan, Beth Ryan, Pat Ryan, Mike (Chelah) Ryan, Ian Ellickson, Aubrey Ellickson and Sunshine (Jim) Myatt. Twelve great grandchildren. Vern was preceded in death by his parents: Emick and Lettie Ellickson. One brother: Roger Ellickson and one nephew: Robert Ellickson.