Vernon Dickhaus

Vernon F. "Vern" Dickhaus, age 79 of Melrose, died on Sunday, July 29, 2012 at Pine Haven Care Centre in Melrose, Minnesota.

Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Thursday, August 2 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose with Rev. Marvin Enneking officiating. Inurnment will be in the parish cemetery with military honors by the Melrose Veterans Honor Guard.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose and 1 hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday. Parish prayers will be held at 5 p.m. followed by the Melrose Veterans Honor Guard at 7 p.m. Wednesday evening at the funeral home.

Vernon Fred Dickhaus was born October 14, 1932 in Millwood Township, Stearns County, Minnesota to Fred and Bertha (Hertzog) Dickhaus. Vern joined the Army in May of 1955 and was a Parts Specialist during the peace keeping time of the Korean War. He received the Good Conduct Medal and an honorable discharge in February of 1957. On May 3, 1958 he married Betty Otte at the St. Boniface Catholic Church in Melrose. Vern spent most of his life farming; did some bar tending, and after retiring he moved to town and worked part-time for Service Master at the Melrose Protein.His hobbies included watching sports on TV and playing sports with his family. He also enjoyed playing cards with family and friends as well as dancing with his wife Betty.

He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and the Schanhaar-Otte VFW Post 7050.

Survivors include his wife, Betty Dickhaus of Melrose; children, Jane (Steve) Welle of Paynesville, Duane (Michelle) Dickhaus of Golden Valley, Eileen (Darrell) Brinkman of St. Paul, Kurt (Dorcas) Dickhaus of Wadena and Glen (Jamie) Dickhaus of Glen Carbon, IL; 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; sisters, Helen Blommel of Melrose, Alma Frieler of Albany, Monica Ahrens of Melrose, Corrine (Jim) Shay of Florida and Karen (John) Callahan of Coon Rapids.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Bertha Dickhaus; brothers, Lawrence, Arnold, Henry and Alcuin; sisters, Irene Poepping and Marie Hinnenkamp; brothers-in-law, Ves Poepping, Herb Hinnenkamp, Bernard Frieler, Ralph Ahrens and Aloys Blommel.

Serving as urn bearer will be Josh Welle. Cross bearer will be Jerod Dickhaus and scripture bearer will be Kyle Dickhaus. Gift bearers will be Jessica Dickhaus and Alex Dickhaus. Readers will be Andy and Mitchell Brinkman. Honorary bearers will be grandchildren.