Vern Cornwell

Vern Cornwell, 96, of Sanford, Michigan, formerly of Rudyard, Michigan, died on March 23, 2019, in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. He was born on March 4, 1923, in Leroy, Michigan, to Franklin Arthur and Lillie Mae (Whitaker) Cornwell. Vern grew up in Battle Creek until third grade when his family moved to Rudyard. He graduated from Rudyard High School with the class of 1940. He married his high school sweetheart Lorraine Johnson on December 20, 1941. They began their family just as he enlisted in the United States Army. He served in World War II for four years as a medic before his discharge in 1945. After his return home, Vern and Lorraine expanded their family raising five sons. He worked a few odd jobs at Rudyard Electric, Cowan’s Department Store, as a school bus driver, and with local construction companies before starting at the U.S Postal Service. He provided Rudyard and Kinross with their mail for 32 years. Lorraine became ill and died in 1996. Vern later met Elizabeth (Griffin) Wegner and they married on July 6, 1996. In 2014, they moved to Sanford, where he spent the rest of his days. Vern was a member of the Rudyard Presbyterian Church, Rudyard Volunteer Fire Department, Rudyard school board member for 26 years, Rudyard Lions Club, Cub Master, Scout Master for 26 years, Silver Beaver Award recipient, and a member of the Sanford Seniors Wood Carvers. Vern loved golfing, reading, doing cross word puzzles, spending time at Grampscamp, gathering with family at Christmas, birthdays and other special occasions, and fishing trout. He was also an amazing wood carver. Vern is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Cornwell of Sanford; sons, Gary (Patti) Cornwell of Harpswell Island, Maine, Glenn (Jodi) Cornwell of Rudyard, Gene (Caroline) Cornwell of Des Allemonds, Louisiana, Greg (Gail) Cornwell of Rudyard; daughter-in-law, Sue Cornwell of Sun, Louisiana; step-daughter, Suzanne (Joe) Ramos of Breckenridge, Michigan; grandchildren, Michelle (Andy) York, Garett Cornwell, Gretchen Cornwell, Garth (Amanda) Cornwell, Gavin (Melissa) Cornwell, Sarah (Kurt) Kwiatkowski, Kurt (Erin) Cornwell, Gene Cornwell Jr., Daniel (Tiffanie) Cornwell, Brady Bischof, Brandi Bischof, Jeremiah (Alicia) Cornwell, Tesha Thomas, Kelle Montenegro, and Amy Lyn Cornwell; great-grandchildren, Mitchell, Samuel, Madison, Kayleigh, Kegan, Deacon, Emily, Elea, Calder, Seneca, Gwendolyn, Grant, Klaire, Lily, Haley, Kurt, Loren, Trey, Mark, Destinee, Jada, and Zion; and great-great-grandchildren, Ivy and Olivia. Vern is preceded in death by his first wife, Lorraine Cornwell; son, Giles Cornwell; granddaughter, Georgiann Cornwell; sisters, Stella Green, Iris Harrison, Theresa Hesselink, Thelma Kooyer; and brothers, Glenn, Leonard, and Albert Cornwell. Visitation will be held on Friday, March 29, 2019, from 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. at R. Galer Funeral Home, 24549 S. M-129 in Pickford, Michigan. The Funeral Service will follow beginning at 1:00 P.M with Leroy Case officiating. Burial will be at Oaklawn Chapel Gardens in the spring of 2019. Memorial Contributions may be made to the Rudyard Presbyterian Church, P.O. 257, Rudyard, MI 49780.

Tributes

Vern Cornwell

March 4, 1923 - March 23, 2019