Vernon Edward Markovetz

Vernon Edward Markovetz was born June 4, 1926, in Aberdeen, South Dakota, son of Edward Stephen and Margaret Barbara Markovetz, brother to Marge and Allen, of Beebe, South Dakota. He graduated from Gettysburg High School one year early in 1943. After several unsuccessful attempts to join the service with underage status, he joined the US Navy that same year, training at Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho and in San Diego. He was assigned to the USS Kershaw a troop transport that served in the South Pacific. Vern married Kathryn Eloise Markovetz of Faulkton, South Dakota. Kathryn was a Women's Army Corps Nurse whom he met in Denver after the war while Vern attended the University of Denver. They returned to Gettysburg after college, helping his father with his grain elevator business, and having their first child, Mary. Their 3 sons - John, Ed and Steve were born in Boulder, CO, where Vern briefly owned a Coast-to-Coast hardware store. Vern spent his remaining working years in retail.

Vern knew both the height of victory in his life, as well as the depths of struggle. He survived both of his siblings, his son Edward, his son's mother-in-law Kazuko, father-in-law Raymond, and sister-in-law Kathy, as well as his daughter-in-law Barbara, and of course his wife Kathryn, who passed 6 months prior to their 60th anniversary, plus numerous brothers- and sisters-in-law, cousins, classmates, and colleagues. Yet, he is survived by his daughter, 2 of his sons, 5 grandchildren - DJ, Bridget, Matthew, Alexandra, Faith, and 5 great grandchildren ? Dustyn, Dignan, Camden, Dacy, Haavin and anyone else he called family or friend. Vern died on Easter Sunday, March 31, 2013. Vernon is also survived by his daughter-in-law, Mary Ann Markovetz, wife of John Markovetz. They live in San Antonio and have loved and cared for him with great affection and attention.