Vernon A. Harders

Vernon A. Harders, 84, died Tuesday morning, December 11, 2018, at his home southeast of Cairo.



Funeral services will be at 10:00 AM Friday at Peace Lutheran Church in Grand Island. The Rev. Michael Reiners will officiate. Burial will be in the Berwick Cemetery near Cairo.



Visitation will be from 4 to 7 PM Thursday at Peace Lutheran Church. Apfel Funeral Home is serving the family.



Memorials are suggested to Peace Lutheran Church.



Vernon A. Harders was born at the home of his parents, Ernest and Lula (Kroeger) Harders, seven miles southeast of Cairo. He grew up on the family farm helping his Dad and brothers farm the home place. He attended District 37 school in Harrison township through the eighth grade and finished his education at Cairo High School graduating in 1951.



He married Beverly Hargens on May 13, 1956 at Christ Lutheran Church in Cairo. They made their first home northwest of Wood River in Jackson township until he was inducted into the U.S. Army in January of 1957. He received his training at Fort Ord, California; Fort Lewis, Washington; and Fort Knox, Kentucky. He was then transferred to Fort Carson, Colorado where he worked as a mechanic in the motor pool.



In October of 1958 Vernon and Beverly came back home and settled on his parent’s farm southeast of Cairo. He raised corn and alfalfa and fed cattle for many years. He loved his work and was most content working with his sons and his family.



He was preceded in death by his wife Beverly on February 22, 2005. Also preceding him were his parents and two brothers, Doyle and Lyle.



He is survived by two sons Daniel (Laura) and Kenneth (Deb); four grandchildren: Amanda & Steven Kelm, Erin and Andrew Theissen, Kendra and Derek Lemburg, and John Harders and his fiancé Kate Quiring; ten great-grandchildren: Zach, Caden, Taylor, and Kelsey Kelm; Jacob, Benjamin, and Nolan Theissen; Gavin, McKenzie, and Addison Lemburg. He is also survived by a dear friend Lorraine Kroeger of Cairo; three step-grandchildren: Scott Reynolds and family, Bobbi Kaczor and family, and Becky Sadd and family.