Vern D. Overbye, Phd, age 85, formerly of Grafton, died peacefully at home in West Bend on October 14, 2014. He was born Sept. 11, 1929, in Waterloo, Iowa, to Martin and Bertha (nee Jensen) Overbye. Vern's family moved to Wisconsin when he was a young boy. Upon high school graduation from Ingram-Glen Flora high school in 1948, he enlisted in the Air Force. Vern served 4 years in Korea and Japan as a bandsman. After serving in the Air Force, he attended the University of Wisconsin, Madison and earned 3 degrees in Mechanical Engineering.

Vern was united in marriage January 21, 1956, to Dorothy Schwandt at Peniel church in Eldorado, WI. He was employed at: MB manufacturing in New Haven, CT., A. O. Smith Corp. in Milwaukee, and MacNeal Schwendler Corp. also of Milwaukee. Vern spent time working in Norway for Norwegian contractors in Oslo. He then founded STM consulting with several other co-workers later becoming treasurer of the company.

Vern was a longtime member of Pilgrim UCC, founding the Endowment fund. His interest in following the markets led to his position as Stocks and Endowments coordinator for the church.

Vern and Dorothy enjoyed traveling to Germany several times to visit his son in the Army and Norway to see his father's birthplace and visit the church where his father was baptized. They also enjoyed trips to Ireland, Hawaii, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Alaska and most of the rest of the United States.

Vern's survivors include his wife of almost 59 years Dorothy; sons David (Lori) of Naperville IL, Thomas (Jo) of Homer IL and Col. James (Dawn) of Gainesville VA; daughter Linda (Fred) Michel of Wooster OH; 10 grandchildren Diane, Jennifer, Jonathon, Timothy, Jeffrey, Hannah and Amanda Overbye and Pauline, Jonathan and Hayden Michel; a niece; nephews; other relatives and friends. Preceded in death by his parents; brothers Russell Koch and Raymond Overbye; sisters Evelyn Harper and Lillian Koch; and nephew Gary Overbye.

Inurnment with military honors will be held at 12:30 PM on Sunday, November 2 at the Cedar Community Memorial Garden (5595 County Rd. Z), West Bend. A Visitation will follow at 1:30 PM at Pilgrim United Church of Christ (1621 2nd Ave), Grafton until the Memorial Service at 3:30pm which will be officiated by Rev. Franz Rigert. Memorials to the Pilgrim United Church of Christ Endowment fund or the Cedar Home Health and Hospice are appreciated.

The family would like to extend thanks to Cedar Home Health and Hospice for their compassionate care.