VERNON "VERN" HERMAN STATEMA

Vernon "Vern" Herman Statema, 74, of Hill City, Minn., formerly of Grand Rapids, Minn., died Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at the Solvay Hospice House in Duluth.

Vern was born in 1935 to Herman and Alice Statema in Grand Rapids where he grew up and attended school.

He attended Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis and returned to Grand Rapids and worked many years at Blandin Paper Company, retiring in 1991. In 1993 Vern moved to Hill City. An avid fisherman and hunter, Vern also loved University of Minnesota Gopher Basketball.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Kenneth; his step-mother, Esther Statema; and by a niece, Cindy Smith.

Survived by daughters, Kathe (Steve Yagoda) Schrupp of Duluth, Beth (Steve) Kelly of Hastings, Minn.; son, Mike (Donna) Statema of Hermantown, Minn.; sister, Elaine (Tom) Carpenter of Longville, Minn.; six grandchildren, Erinn, Abby, Lunden, Logan, Tiffany and Kahla; two great grandchildren, Madyson and David; nephew, Dennis (Kim) Carpenter of Princeton, Minn.; Godson and cousin, Wayne (Marlene) Cole of Cohasset, Minn.; many cousins and friends who touched his life.

Vern's family would like to thank Father Bill Green, Father Eric Hastings, Denny Anderson, Joe Gillson and the Itasca Hospice Team. They also wish to thank everyone at the Solvay Hospice House for their compassion, kindness and gentle care.

VISITATION: 4 to 6 p.m. . Wednesday, March 24, in the Rowe Funeral Home in Grand Rapids and will continue from 10 a.m. until the Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 25, in St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Grand Rapids. A private burial will be held at a later date. Please visit rowefuneralhomeandcrematory.com to sign the guest book and/or leave condolences.

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