Vernon LeRoy Cole
June 11, 1948 – Oct. 31, 2016
Vernon LeRoy Cole, 68, of Anamosa, formerly of Algona, passed away peacefully surrounded by his wife, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren by his side on Oct. 31, 2016, in the Hospice Unit at St Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids.
Vernon fought a yearlong battle with stage IV Colon Cancer. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., on Friday at Lentz Funeral Home in Algona, with burial in Laurel Hill Cemetery in Irvington. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m., on Thursday at Lentz Funeral Home in Algona.
Vernon was born June 11, 1948, in Clarion to Russell and V. Armagene (Jones) Cole of Algona. Vernon attended Algona High School where he enjoyed participating in sports (football and baseball). He graduated in 1967.
Vernon met Patricia Foster in 1967 at the Algona Skating Rink and was joyfully married on Aug. 18, 1968. They resided in Algona and were blessed with three children. Dawn (Michael) Dias of Anamosa, Allen (Carol) Cole of Burt and Cheryl (Randy) Dicks of Hiawatha.
Vernon enjoyed spending time with all of his family, watching his favorite teams play (Chicago Bears, Hawkeyes, Atlanta Braves and New York Yankees). He loved imparting all of his knowledge to his children and grandchildren. In his later years he loved spending time with his fur baby Tippy (the kitty).
Vernon is survived by his wife Pat; his three children and their spouses; 13 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren; his sisters Rhonda Stammer of Algona, Janet Davis (Reggie Fuller) of Centerville and his brother Gary Cole of Diagonal; many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, sisters and brothers-in-law and two good friends, Daniel and Mary Dias of Cedar Rapids.
Vernon is preceded in death by his parents, Russell and Armagene; his grandson Joshua Porter, his father-in-law Robert Foster and two brothers-in-law, Randy Stammer and Randy Waugh.