Vernon Osheim

Vernon Osheim, age 89, of Thompson, Iowa, died Friday, January 6, 2012, at Mercy Medical Center in Mason City, Iowa.

Vernon Osheim was born April 9, 1922, the thirteenth (of fourteen) child of Hans and Annie (Quam) Osheim and was the last remaining child living. Vernon spent his boyhood days on the family farm three miles southeast of Thompson, until 1941 when he spent six weeks at a sheet metal job in Des Moines, Iowa. After completion he went to San Diego, CA, and worked in a defense plant until entering the armed forces on July 1, 1943. He took basic training at Lincoln Air Base, Lincoln, NE. After completing this training, he was sent to New York City for a three month course at the Radio-Television Institute Inc., and from there to Fresno, CA, for assignment which ended in a return trip back to Jefferson Barracks, MO, for overseas training. He spent 1944 overseas in New Guinea and Australia. After some time in the hospital in Australia, he was discharged August 7, 1945. He enrolled in Waldorf College, in Forest City, for two years. On June 11, 1946, he was united in marriage to Lorraine Maron Hagenson and to this union four children were born. They have made their home in Thompson their entire lives. He accepted a job in the Post Office in 1950 and retired in 1987. He also operated a Laundromat in town.
Vernon was an excellent carpenter and enjoyed helping on the family farm, which is an Iowa Century Farm. His hobbies also included fishing, gardening, small appliance repair, coin collecting, stamp collecting and playing cards. He and Lorraine enjoyed many years of camping in their motor home and attending Bluegrass festivals. He was very fond of lighthouses and enjoyed creating them out of various scraps and object, as well as seeking them out while traveling. He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather who set a great example for his family and was his happiest when surrounded by them all. He will be dearly missed.
Vernon is survived by his wife of 65 years, Lorraine; his four children, Mary Ann (Irven) Olsen of Thompson, Colleen (Russell) Haugen of Thompson, Charles (Kristi) Osheim of Thompson, and Donna (Randy) Miller of Leland, IA; his twelve grandchildren, Michael (Amy) Olsen of North Mankato, MN, Steven Olsen of Thompson, Kristine (Brian) Schwartz of Rosemount, MN, Kathy (Brandon) Zender of West Des Moines, IA, James (Tuesday) Haugen of Woodbury, MN, Jason (Laura) Haugen of Farmington, MN, Jill (Blake) Jones of North Mankato, MN, Lisa (Matthew) Brozik of Mankato, MN, Amy (Ross) Long of Waverly, IA, Lorissa Rollefson of West Des Moines, IA, Justin Rollefson of Iowa City, IA, and Jeremy Rollefson of Fresno, CA, as well as twelve great-grandchildren and one more soon to arrive.
Vernon was preceded in death by his parents Hans and Annie Osheim and his five brothers and eight sisters, Galena Orstad, Josie Johnson, John Osheim, Alma Griggs, Bertha Wermersen, Gunnar Osheim, Helmer Osheim, Clara Rossiter, Kenneth Osheim, Myrtle Sorbo, Julane Carolus, Thelma Harang and Merle Osheim.