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Vern Freeman - 5/7/2011

Class of 1936

Lindon/Aurora, Utah - William Vern Freeman, age 94, passed away Saturday, May 7, 2011 at his home in Lindon. He was born in Pleasant Grove, Utah to John Leslie and Effie May Pierce Freeman on December 28, 1916, and graduated from Pleasant Grove High School in 1936. During high school, Vern worked for local farmers harvesting their crops. He also peddled fruit and worked as a gas station attendant. Upon completing high school he drove gasoline trucks until he married. After moving to Aurora he built and operated a gas station and a sandwich shop. Following World War II, he renovated and operated a grocery store. On December 31, 1951, Vern was sworn in as Postmaster of Aurora. The next day, he placed a chain around the existing post office building and used a tractor to slide the building on the ice-covered road one block south and placed it next to his store so he could operate both businesses at the same time. Twenty years later Vern was transferred to the Fillmore, UT post office and worked there until he retired in 1983.

Vern married Elda Ruth Curtis in the Manti Temple on March 8, 1940. Together they had four children: Kent V, Kaye (Plehn), Larry C, and Brice.

In 1945 Vern was inducted into the U S Navy and served at Sampson Naval Base in upper New York and in San Francisco receiving an honorable discharge in 1946.

Vern was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served many callings, including Elders Quorum President, Ward Clerk, Bishop, Stake Clerk and High Priest Group Leader. He also served as a member of the family history genealogical committee where he developed his love of genealogy. He compiled many books of family history.

After retiring from the post office in 1983, he and Elda moved to Mesa, Arizona, but were called on a mission to Texas before they could unpack their belongs at their new home. After their mission they served as LDS temple workers for many years in the Mesa Arizona Temple and continued their temple work at the Jordan River Temple in South Jordan, UT after moving back to Utah in 1993.

Family was important to Vern. He kept and cataloged every greeting card he ever received. He was diligent about sending birthday cards to all family members including every grandchild, and great grandchild.

After Elda passed away in 1997, Vern was reacquainted with his high school sweetheart, Opal Rindlisbacher and married her on his 85th birthday, December 28, 2001. Opal died March 6, 2004.

Vern leaves behind two children, Kent (Marlis) Freeman, Aurora, UT; Kaye (Mark) Plehn, Sandy, UT; a daughter-in-law, Lynda (Larry) Despain, Moroni, UT; step-children: Richard (Clara) Oliver, Spanish Fork; Frederic (Olivia) Oliver, Orem; Robert (Nancy) Oliver, Ephraim; Charlotte (David) Dyreng, North Las Vegas, NV; Julia (Charles) Hansen, Portland, OR; forty-one grandchildren, eighty-five great grandchildren and four great great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wives, Elda and Opal; two sons, Larry and Brice; two grandsons, Mark Freeman and Ryan Freeman; one great grandson, Christian Plehn; one brother and two sisters: Earl Freeman, Rhea Dickerson and Beth James.

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