Vernon M. Hixon, 79, of 2509 5th Avenue South, Escanaba, passed away Sunday morning November 30, 2008 at the St. Francis Hospital in Escanaba following a lengthy illness.
Vern was born August 25, 1929 in Munising, MI the son of Elvin and LaVina Bell (Mongar) Hixon. He was raised in Dafter, MI and he was a graduate of Trout Lake High School.
Vern was united in marriage to the former Angeline Marie (Poglese) on April 25, 1949 in Sault Ste Marie, MI. They made their home in Gladstone where they raised their four children.
Vern proudly served his country in the U.S. Army. He served his first duty out of McChord Air Force Base in Washington, where he was stationed in Alaska. Shortly after his honorable discharge, he was re-drafted into the U.S. Army where he served in Korea. Vern was a highly decorated honorably discharged veteran.
Early in Vern’s life, he worked on the family farm, drove truck, and then became an electrician with IBEW Local #979 in Escanaba. He had worked for many local contractors in the area. Vern’s favorite job was doing the electrical work for most of the local airports in the Upper Peninsula. He helped with the lighting on most of the runways throughout the UP and also on Beaver and Drummond Islands.
Vern was a happy go lucky hard working man. He loved to play Euchre, go fishing and spend time on his boats. His family was proud when he received his 1600 ton captain’s license from the U.S. Coast Guard. The last boat he owned, a converted fishing tug, Vern and Angeline sailed all over Lake Superior, Lake Huron, and Lake Michigan with many friends and family. Vern and Angeline were active with the Coast Guard Auxiliary and made several recues for the coast guard.
In addition to Angeline, his wife of 59 years, survivors include;
2 sons; Elvin of Gladstone and Daryll of Rapid River
2 daughters; Terri (Peter) Gaeta of Charlotte, NC; Angela (Mike) Watkins of Green Bay, WI
4 grandchildren; Vern and Steven Hixon of Gladstone, Kaitlyne and Vincent Micheau of Rapid River.
Numerous nieces, nephews and cousins
In addition to his parents, Vern was preceded in death by;
1 brother; Ken Hixon
7 sisters;
May VanDusen, Bertha Depew, Myrtle Bernier, Lucille McClinchey, Edna Gravelle, Lois Waybrant and Luella Albrough.
Vern’s family will receive friends on Friday December 5th, 2008 from 4:00 to 6:45 PM at the Skradski-Boyce Funeral Home in Escanaba. Military rites conducted by the Delta County Veterans Council will follow at 6:45 PM. Readings by Virginia Takala, a close friend of the family, will follow at 7:00 PM. Burial will be in the spring of 2009 at the Pine Grove Cemetery in Sault Ste Marie, MI.
