Memorial

Laverne “Vern” Jackson, 87, of Marion passed away April 13th at St. Luke’s Unity Point Hospice in Cedar Rapids. A public visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 P.M. on April 16 at the Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home. A private family service will be held at the Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories with burial following at the Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. A livestream of the funeral service may be accessed on the funeral home website under the obituary for Laverne “Vern” Jackson, under the video tab starting at 1:00 PM on Saturday, April 17, 2021.

Following the continued guidance from health officials, physical distancing must be practiced which requires a limited number of people allowed into the visitation at one time. The use of facemasks or shields is required.

Vern was born December 15, 1933 in Memphis, Missouri to Leo and Veda Jackson. He graduated from Downing High School and entered the US Army in 1954 and served two years. Vern married Jo Shubert in 1953. They were married for several years and had two sons, Ron, and Terry, and one daughter Karla. After they divorced, Vern married Mary Clark on February 17,1979.  

Vern worked for the US Postal Service as a letter Carrier for 34 years before retiring in 1990. Vern held office in the Letter Carrier’s Union; was a member of NARFE and a past member of the Lions Club. He also served several years as a Director on the board of First Federal Community Credit Union. Vern was a part time school bus driver for the Linn Mar school district, and after retirement drove full time for a few years. He was a longtime member of First Presbyterian Church of Marion.  

In 1993 Vern and Mary started traveling in their R.V. They spent ten summers in Estes Park, Colorado doing a lot of hiking. While there Vern drove a tour bus in the National Park and Mary worked in the RV park office. In 1995, they started going to Arizona and spent twenty winters in Casa Grande. Vern loved the outdoors and when his children were growing up, he enjoyed fishing, hunting, boating, and camping with his family. He was active as a scout leader and coached his daughter’s school softball team, and always supported his children in their school activities.  

He enjoyed working on the computer, reading, traveling, camping, fishing, card games, shuffleboard, and spending time with family and friends. Vern especially loved his family and enjoyed seeing his children and grandchildren make a good life for themselves. He was a loving husband and he and Mary had 42 wonderful years together. 

Vern is survived by his loving wife Mary; children Ron (Beverly) Jackson of Vinton, Iowa, and Terry (Cheryl) Jackson of Mt. Vernon, Iowa; brother Larry (Sue) Jackson of St. Louis, Missouri; stepdaughters Tamie Unash of Ely, Iowa and Teresa Hyde of Mechanicsville, Iowa; eleven grandchildren, a great grandson and three great granddaughters with another arriving in May. 

He is preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, daughter Karla Wright, and a brother Dean Jackson. 

The family would like to thank Unity Point Hospice for the love and care given to Vern throughout his illness. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the American Cancer Society, Unity Point Hospice, or the First Presbyterian Church of Marion.