Grandpa's Obituary

Charles Vernon Hovendick
1910 ~ 2007

CHARLES VERNON HOVENDICK, also known as Jim, was born January 28, 1910, to Charles and Elorah (Fletcher) Hovendick near Fletcher, Nebraska, (now rural Herman). He passed away Monday, March 19, 2007, at the Hiawatha Care Center in Hiawatha, Iowa, at the age of 97 years.

Vernon attended rural school through the eighth grade at Pleasant Hill and grades nine and ten at the Crawford School. Several years later he earned his high school equivalency diploma. Vernon always like working with figures and doing bookwork, and enjoyed working in his office building (a converted brooder house) on the farm and later in his basement office.

On December 28, 1932, Vernon married Marjorie Corkill at her parents’ home in Tekamah. They had two children, James Vernon and Lois. Marjorie passed away in February 1999.

Many remember Vernon as their Pioneer seed corn salesman. Vernon and Marjorie farmed on their farm west of Herman until moving to Tekamah in 1981. Vernon raised cattle and hogs and like working with horses. He also worked for the Burt County ASC for several years. After moving to Tekamah, Vernon volunteered at the Burt County Museum, serving as a member of the board and as treasurer for several years.

He was active in many Masonic Lodges and was a 60-year member of the Herman Landmark Masonic Lodge No. 222. For several years, he served as Grand Chaplain for the Nebraska Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons.

Religion was always a very important part of Vernon’s life. He joined the First Baptist Church in Tekamah as a youth, was church treasurer for many years, served as deacon and on the board of trustees, and taught the young adult Sunday school class for many years. An avid Bible reader and scholar, Vernon knew many scriptures by heart and enjoyed listening to his Bible and devotional tapes after his vision failed.

In the summer of 2000, Vernon moved to the Oakland Heights Assisted Living due to poor eyesight caused by Macular Degeneration. In 2004, in order to live near his daughter, Vernon moved to Iowa to the Fontanelle Good Samaritan Center, a year later he moved to the Hiawatha Care Center.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Marjorie; brothers and sisters-in-law: Lester and Mabel, Chester and Dorothy, Howard and Fae Hovendick; and a twin infant sister.

Survivors include his son and daughter-in-law: James and Arlene Hovendick of Montgomery, Texas; daughter and son-in-law: Lois and Jim Wood of Center Point, Iowa; seven grandchildren: Mitch Hovendick and wife, Carman, Mike Hovendick and wife, Sharon, Tim Hovendick, Susie Chan and husband, Anthony, Karen Premeaux and husband, Billy, Brian Wood and wife, Jane, Barb Candee and husband, Kevin; nine great grandchildren.

FUNERAL SERVICE: Saturday, March 24, 2007, at 1:30 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Tekamah, Nebraska.

VISITATION: Friday, March 23, 2007, from 1 - 8 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. Masonic Service by Tekamah and Herman Masonic Lodges at Pelan Funeral Services Tekamah. Visitation will also be held Saturday one hour prior to the service at the church.

BURIAL: Herman Cemetery, Herman, Nebraska.

MEMORIALS: First Baptist Church, Tekamah; Burt County Museum, Tekamah and Donor’s Choice.

Source: Pelan Funeral Services (link)