Vernon Hornbacher

Vernon Wayne Hornbacher, age 92, of Slater, Iowa, passed away on April 27th at Mary Greeley Medical Center, Ames, Iowa.
Vern was born March 26, 1933, in Elm Creek, Nebraska to Daniel and Josie Hornbacher. He was the 4th of 8 children! His family moved to the Nevada, Iowa area during the depression and he attended Oak Park Academy. After high school, he was drafted into the Army and served 2 years. After his military service, he began working for Coy and Sons as a carpenter.
On June 30, 1956, He married Jacqueline Borwick of Radcliffe, Iowa. To that union was born 2 daughters, Valerie and Vicki.
Later, Vern started Hornbacher Construction and worked on many homes in the Ames area for 25 years! Although he was a skilled carpenter, his heart was always in farming, and he loved helping his friends with their fieldwork. He also loved John Deere Tractors and was so proud when his grandson, Marc restored his 2510!
He was a member of the Central Iowa Tractor Club for many years and went on the "Hoppy Ride" every summer. He also went on the WHO Tractor Ride several times. Vern never met a stranger, he made friends wherever he went. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him!
He loved being a dad and grandpa! He took his 6 grandkids to the Iowa State Fair for several years, from sun up to sun down in his cowboy boots and jeans! Val and Vic remember many rides through the country to check the crops and tractor pulls every weekend! He made everything fun and leaves many happy memories for his family.
Vern is survived by his two daughters, Valerie (Kevin) Myers of Huxley and Vicki (Tom) John of Kelley; six grandchildren, Kati (Rich) Higgins, Kari (Mark) Deyoung, Kristina (Bret) Culbertson, Mathew (Kaitlin) John, Marc (Julianna) John, and Casey John; and 15 great grandchildren! He is also survived by two sisters, Erma (Lee) Larson of Salem, OR, and Joyce Hadley of Nevada, one sister in law, Wanda Hornbacher, and one brother in law, Gary Suggs, along with many nieces and nephews!
He is preceded in death by his parents; his three brothers, William, Daniel, and James; and two sisters, Mildred Bates and Clara Jeanne Suggs; sister in laws, LaDonna Hornbacher, and Janet Hornbacher; brothers in law, James Bates, and Wilbur Hadley; and nephews, Gary Hornbacher, Gene Hornbacher, David Bates, and Jimmy Baker.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Vern faithfully donated to St Jude Children's Research Hospital, memorials may be directed to them.