LaVergn (Vern) Herman Gemaehlich passed away Wednesday, June 20th, 2018, at the age of 77, in Atwood, CO.  Vern was born October 23rd, 1940 in Washington County, Colorado.

Vern was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Sterling,Colorado.  Visitation will be held Monday, June 25 ^, 2018 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Bowin Funeral Home in Akron, CO.  A funeral service for Vern will be Tuesday, June 26th, 2018, @ 10:30 am at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sterling, Colorado.  Interment will be at 1:00 pm at the Burdett Cemetery north of Otis, Colorado

He was an honorably discharged member of the Army.  He served the majority of his time at Fort Hood, TX.  While serving in the army he provided office support to officers.  On November 22nd, 1963, President Kennedy was assassinated, at which point he was sent to Dallas for military police duty during the time of unrest.  He was very proud of his service to his country and loved to reminisce about his time spent with the Army.  At one point during a visit with his daughter in Texas, he went to the 6th floor museum in Dallas.  He knew where almost everything was all those years later.

After his return from the army, Vern attended Northeastern Junior College.  There he studied agriculture and crop support.  After he graduated from NJC he was employed by American Fertilizer.  He worked with many farmers through the years helping them raise the best crops possible.  In 1992, Vern left High Plains Coop and started D & V spraying.  From there his business grew with the support of local farmers who were very loyal to him.  He later partnered with the Anton Coop and they made a pretty good team.  Vern fully retired in 2010, only doing small jobs for very few people.

In 1978, he met Dianna James and her 2 young children, Stewart and Persephone.  Vern and Dianna were married on January 12, 1979, in Sterling, Colorado, in the presence of their parents and children.  In August they welcomed Karla.  Vern and Dianna enjoyed 33 years of marriage before Dianna passed away in 2012.  Through the years they took in many foster kids.  You never knew who would be at their house from one day to the next.  They later adopted two boys they had fostered, Philip and Jose.  That completed their family.

Vern leaves behind his 5 children.  Persephone James of Sterling, CO and her two boys, Nicholas and Ryan.  Stewart James, of Sterling, CO, his wife Nicole, and their 4 kids, Tanner, Amanda, Michala and Zoetta.  Karla Ells and her husband Christopher, of Burleson, TX and their 3 kids, Arianna, Hugh and Liam.  Philip Gemaehlich of Fort Collins, CO and Jose Gemaehlich of Atwood, CO; sister LaVaughn Bresnahan of Cheyenne, WY, sister Linda (Dale) Koehler of Sterling, CO, brothers Don Gemaehlich of Otis, CO, Norman (Herta) Gemaehlich of Eureka Springs, Arkansas, and Ronald (Tammy) Gemaehlich of Greeley, CO.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Herman and Helen Gemaehlich, two brothers Arnold and Marvin Gemaehlich, and his wife, Dianna Gemaehlich.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Trinity Lutheran Church, 732 Clark St., Sterling, CO 80751.