Vernon W. Zempel was born November 19, 1920, on the family farm in Camp Release Township in Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota, to Edward and Tillie (Eggers) Zempel. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. He completed country school through the 8th grade in rural Montevideo, Minnesota. During his teens, he worked on various farms. He began working at an egg drying plant in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota. There he got into the hatchery business and finally owned a hatchery in Montevideo. He was well known locally as a soloist, and hosted a program at KDMA radio station, entitled "Hymns We Love." In 1957, he made a recording. He was very active in local politics and was a candidate for State Representative in 1962. In the mid-1960s, he turned his great love of gardening into a business, when he owned and operated a greenhouse. In the late 1960s, he became manager of the Associated Loan office in Montevideo. When that business sold, he worked for Anderson Super Service, and then later opened a collection agency, which he operated until his retirement. At age 80, his love for people motivated him to become a greeter at WalMart in Montevideo. On September 16, 1945, he was united in marriage to Betty Miller, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Granite Falls, Minnesota. He passed away September 12, 2003, at the age of 82 years, 9 months and 24 days. He is survived by his wife; son Mark (and Carole) Zempel of Stillwater, Minnesota; daughter Sally (and David) Smith of Merced, California; and son Keith (and Kay) Zempel of Granite Falls, Minnesota; seven grandchildren; two great grandchildren; sisters: Delores (and Ervin) Klaassen of Clara City, Minnesota, and Evelyn Jorgenson of Clarkfield, Minnesota; brothers: LeRoy (and Audrey) Zempel of Granite Falls, Minnesota, Floyd (and Arlene) Zempel of Montevideo, Minnesota, and Lloyd (and Margie) Zempel of Redwood Falls, Minnesota; sisters-in-law: Emma Zempel and Gladys Zempel, both of Montevideo; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and one sister. Visitation Monday, September 15, 2003, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Prayer Service 7:30 p.m. St. Paul Lutheran Church, Montevideo, Minnesota Funeral Service Tuesday, September 16, 2003, 10:30 a.m. St. Paul Lutheran Church, Montevideo, Minnesota Officiating, Pastor Leo Deitemeyer Organist, Jean Schultz Casket Bearers Seymour Charnstrom, Lyle Klaassen Steven Nelson, Chad Smith Aaron Turney, Scott Zempel Final Resting Place Terrace Lawn Memory Gardens, Camp Release Township Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota (Private Family Burial) Arrangements by Lynner Funeral Home Since 1891 Clarkfield Minnesota