Obituaries

Funeral services will be 1:30 p.m. Thursday, April 24, 2008, at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in Lawler with Rev. Marvin Salz officiating.  Lector for the service will be Joe Scally. Music will be provided by Ruth McKone as organist and Colleen Busta as vocalist.  

Burial will be in the church cemetery with military rites by the Harold Redman Post #279 of Lawler.  Pallbearers will be Tim Njus, David Njus, Dennis Njus, Jack Sabelka, Donny Blazek Jr. and John Eichenberger.  Honorary Pallbearers are Vern's "Monday & Thursday Night Card Players".

Friends may call 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Wednesday at Hugeback & Chenoweth Funeral Home, Lawler. Visitation continues an hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday.

Vern Lowell Njus was born north of Lawler, Iowa on April 30, 1936, the son of Joseph Ingevald and Ingaborg Marie “Mae” (Nystel) Njus. He was baptized on May 31, 1936, and confirmed on June 5, 1949, at the Crane Creek Lutheran Church. He attended Jacksonville No. 7 Country School and the Lawler Grade School. He was a 1954 graduate of the Lawler Public High School.

Vern entered the United States Army on March 5, 1959, and was honorably discharged as a Private First Class on December 6, 1960. He continued his education at Northeast Iowa Community College and received a diploma in Production Agriculture.

On April 22, 1972, at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in Lawler, he married Rose Marie Martinek. To this union four children were born. The couple moved to their farm three miles north of Lawler in April of 1973 where Vern custom-farmed, drove school bus for Turkey Valley Schools and had a repair shop. In 1977, the couple bought the bulk gas truck from Jack McKone and sold it to C.A.S.H. in the early 1990’s. Vern then spent time rebuilding cars with his sons until suffering a stroke on March 6, 1994. Vern and Rose then moved into Lawler in October of 1995. During retirement, Vern stayed very active cutting wood, woodworking, caring for his yard and playing cards. His greatest joy was making things for his grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife, Rose; three sons, Scott (Jesse) Njus and their son, Chandler of Fredericksburg, Allen (Sarah) Njus and their daughters, Lydia and Elaina of Pearland, TX, D.J. (Jodi) Njus and their sons, Dillon and Tanner of New Hampton; one daughter, Rhonda (Matt) Renshaw of Mason City, IA; two brothers, Lyle (Bernette) Njus and Orlo (Joan) Njus all of Lawler; six nieces and nephews; several great-nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his mother on October 15, 1965, and his father on March 6, 1972.