Vern was born at Boyd’s Nursing Home in Fawcett, Alberta in 1943. He grew up on a farm just outside or Flatbush, Alberta. He had three brothers and one sister. He started working on the oil rigs at a young age and he stayed in the oil and gas industry throughout his career, working for various companies in Alberta but spent a lot of his winters working in the far north. He truly loved the work that he did and the people he worked with, forging many lifelong friendships. The most important things to Vern was spending quality time with his family and numerous friends camping, boating, fishing, golfing, sledding, skiing or anything outdoors.
He leaves behind his loving wife of 56 years Marg (Thornton); his children: Karen, Kevin (Nicola) & Kristine; his five grandchildren: Tanner (Kaylee), Alannah, Cameron, Livia & Kaeli; two brothers: Arthur (Gail) of Fawcett, AB, Erwin (Linda) of Nova Scotia; sister Iris (Dennis) Kerik of Surrey B.C.; brother in-law Harvey (Estrella) of Jarvie, AB; sister-in-law Yvonne (Ken) Kroetsch of Thunder Lake, AB and numerous nieces and nephews, as well as cousins.
He was predeceased by his parents Egon & Irene Andres as well as his oldest brother Herbert and sister-in-law Irene.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Parkinson’s Association of Alberta (11209 86 street, Edmonton, AB).