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Japel, age 83, of McVille, ND, died Thursday, December 4th at the Nelson County Health System Care Center in McVille, ND. A funeral service will be held at 1:00 PM Tuesday, December 9th at the Lerud Schuldt Funeral Home in Valley City. Visitation will be held one hour before the service at the funeral home on Tuesday. Interment will be in the Buffalo Cemetery, Buffalo, ND in the spring.
Vernon Henry Japel, the son of Henry and Fern (Schmidt) Japel, was born December 9, 1930 in Hill Township near Tower City, ND. He attended country school and farmed with his father until he enlisted in the US Navy on March 20, 1951. Vernon served with the US Navy two years abroad. On June 5, 1953 he married Francis Mae Deyo in Indianhead, MD. After his discharge on March 15, 1955, the couple returned to Tower City, ND where he worked for Miller Repair. In 1956, Vernon moved to McVille, ND were Vernon worked for Klinger and Sons and later owned and operated Vern’s Repair from 1972 until 1999. Vernon loved to spend time with his family and friends and to work on and run steam tractors. Vernon was an avid collector of old tractors, cars and farm machinery. He traveled to threshing shows throughout North Dakota, Minnesota and Canada. He was honored by the CNDSTR in New Rockford for his many years of running a steam tractor. Vernon also enjoyed fishing and hunting game birds and deer. Vernon was a member of the McVille American Legion for over 60 years and the McVille Fire Department for over 50 years. In 2010, Vernon became a resident of the Nelson County Health Systems Care Center in McVille. While in the care center he enjoyed reading gas engine magazines.
Vernon is survived by his sister Lois Berndt, Wahpeton, ND; nephews, Paul (Lori) Berndt, Hankinson, ND and Brad Berndt, Wahpeton, ND; one niece, Pamela (Kelly) Volochenko, Balfour, ND; great nieces, Kaitlyn and Karley Volochenko, Bismarck, ND and Kenzie Volochenko, Balfour, ND; and special friends Ramona Neva and Greg Messner.
Vernon was preceded in death by his wife Francis, a daughter, Cheryl, one infant son, his parents, one sister Delores Westphal and two brothers-in-law, Melvin Westphal and Allen Berndt.
Funeral arrangements by the Lerud Schuldt Funeral Home of Valley City, ND. Online guestbook available at lerudschuldt.com.