Vernon Esch

Vernon Wayne Esch, 93, passed away on November 3, 2022, in Mountain Home, AR. Vern was born on October 4, 1929, in a farmhouse north of Washington, IL, to Harley and Mildred Fauber Esch. He attended Washington High School where he was active in the Glee Club and 4-H. Vernon won many ribbons raising and showing Dorset sheep. He also enjoyed playing the electric steel guitar.

Vern married Lora Bell Sever on July 30, 1950, in Peoria, IL. In 1956, they and their two children, at that time, moved to FL. where Vern worked in life insurance sales. Meanwhile, their family grew to six children. In 1968 Vern accepted a new position in the industry, and the family moved to Vermont. In 1969 the family moved back to Vern's boyhood home in Washington, IL, where he began work at Caterpillar Tractor Company. They attended St. Mark's Lutheran Church there from 1969 until 2000. A beautiful wood artwork of Jesus made by Vern is still displayed at the church.

In 1970 the family became interested in raising and showing Collies under the Verlor's Collie's kennel name. Over the following 15 years, they bred, raised, and showed many National Champions throughout the United States. They bred the first smooth International Champion Collie in Brazil. Vern was the Illinois District Director for the Collie Club of America and President of the American Smooth Collie Association. He was an accomplished writer of monthly articles for Collie Review, a National Collie publication for eight years. In late 2015 with the help of two granddaughters, Vern published all eight years of these articles along with some of his short stories in a book titled "The Smooth Scene," which was sold in North America, Finland, and Australia and which is now archived with the Collie Club of America.

Upon retirement from Caterpillar in 1990, Vern and Lora started another business called Verlor's Studios. They used a woodworking technique called Intarsia to create mosaic-like 3D pictures. They showed their artwork all over the Midwest and sold nearly 1,000 photos in the United States, England, and Japan.

In 2000 Vern and Lora moved to Mountain Home, AR. They became members of Redeemer Lutheran Church, where Vern was an Elder and was active in the Choir, the Men's chorus, and the Golden Aires.

Vern and Lora were married 70 years and were avid world travelers. Vern had a great passion for writing and wrote many humorous and witty short stories. He was a good listener and was very supportive of both family and friends alike. He took great pride in his family and what each had accomplished.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Lora, and daughter-in-law Teresa Esch. He is survived by his sister, Lucille Dyer of East Peoria, IL; and his children, Debra (Doug) Crist of Albuquerque, NM, Michael (Beth) Esch of Mount Juliet, TN, Vicki (Jeff) Grewe of Athens, AL, James (Irene) Esch of Lovettsville, VA, Thomas (Rina) Esch of San Jose, CA, and Susan (Ty) Rynearson of Peoria, IL; 15 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. One niece and two nephews also survive him.

At Mason White Funeral Home in Washington, a funeral service is scheduled for 11:00 am on Friday, November 11, 2022. Pastor Kendra Nolde from St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Washington will officiate. Visitation will be one hour before his service also at the funeral home. His burial will be in Glendale Cemetery in Washington. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Washington.