Vernon James Pernsteiner, 88, of Medford, died May 20, 2021 at Marshfield Medical Center in Marshfield.
A memorial service will be held at 12 p.m., Friday, June 11, 2021 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Medford with Fr. Patrick McConnell officiating. Following the service, military honors conducted by the Medford Area Military Honors Team. Interment will follow at Holy Rosary Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Thursday, June 10 from 4 p.m. until the time of the rosary service at 7 p.m. at Holy Rosary Catholic Church and one hour prior to the service Friday, June 11 at the church.
He was born August 26, 1932 in Medford to Frank and Margaret (Sauer) Pernsteiner. He graduated from Medford High School, class of 1951.
Vern proudly served in the U.S. Army working as a Fire Panel Operator from 1953 until his honorable discharge in 1955. Once Vern returned from the military, he worked road construction for Mathy’s Construction.
On June 3, 1961, Vern married Ardis Couillard at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Medford.
Being a conservationist before it was “fashionable”, Vern worked at Wisconsin Conservation assisting with dike building at the Pershing Wildlife refuge (“Water Fowl Flowage”). He also planted many trees, ditched the fields and any other task to improve the land. Vern managed Pernsteiner Bros., a farming company he owned with his brother Donald, from 1970 until recently, and was a self-employed dairy farmer from 1962-2002.
Vern was very active in his community. He served as the Medford Town Supervisor from 1974-1998. He was then elected Medford Town Chairman and served from 1999-2019, retiring after 46 years of service. He was a member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, Medford American Legion Post 147, and past member of the Wisconsin Towns Association.
As an Army veteran, Vern was invited to visit Washington DC on the Honor Flight in May of 2015, a trip of a lifetime and a memory to cherish.
A true outdoorsman, Vern loved being in the woods. He enjoyed hunting whitetail deer in Wisconsin and made many trips out west (Montana and Wyoming) hunting large game.
He is survived by his wife Ardis of Medford; son, Patrick Pernsteiner of Medford; daughter, Paula Pernsteiner-Mueller of Weston; grandson, Zachary Mueller; siblings, Anita Johnson Salvay of CA, Clair (Jeanne) Pernsteiner of OH, Robert Pernsteiner (Vera) of WA, Delores Schultz of AZ; sister-in-law, Delores Pernsteiner of Marshfield; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Donald and Jerome Pernsteiner; sister-in-law, Bonnie Pernsteiner; brothers-in-law, Lloyd Johnson, Charles Salvay, and Warren Schultz.
Hemer Funeral Service of Medford and Rib Lake is serving the
family. Online condolences can be left at www.hemerfuneralservice.com.
