Charles Vern Layton
September 30, 1958 — July 7, 2024
Rev. Charles Vern Layton (65) of Cedar Rapids.
Christ called on St. Peter three times to feed his sheep before Peter got the message. With a BA from Wartburg College, Chuck Layton first planned to teach singing with his clear, strong voice. He loved singing but not teaching. Next, he thought to survive by his hobbies of fixing old vacuums and refurbishing old fountain pens - wishful thinking. Finally, he heard his true calling. He received his Master of Divinity at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary and in 1987 was ordained as a minister in the United Methodist Church (UMC).
Pastor Chuck’s first call was in Calamus, IA, where his heart led him to also serve as a firefighter with the Calamus Volunteer Fire Department. His care and concern for the fire and emergency services would later extend to working as an Iowa Highway Patrol Chaplain during his next three calls to UMC churches in New Hartford, Onawa, and Greenfield.
In Greenfield, he worked with the community committee that restored Greenfield’s historic opera house. This allowed him to combine his love of singing with his penchant for fixing old, forgotten stuff. When Chuck was called to First United Methodist Church in Forest City and the Clear Lake United Methodist Church, he found joy in working with farmers in those churches’ Fields of Faith Ministry.
From Forest City, he was called to beautiful St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Dubuque, where he was one of the founders of the “Fountain of Youth” program that helped many struggling young people find a different and better path. Although the discipline of his calling meant a solitary personal life for himself, he bravely spoke out in support of changes for the next generations of LGBTQ pastors in his beloved United Methodist Church. From St. Luke’s, Pastor Chuck was called to Waterloo First United Methodist Church. He was very much the good shepherd there, guiding that congregation through the mighty challenges of the COVID pandemic.
Pastor Chuck’s final call was to Asbury United Methodist Church in Cedar Rapids where he was well loved and found healing. He realized another church in Cedar Rapids was without a pastor and he knew that he was called to become the shepherd at Kenwood United Methodist Church, too. He joined both flocks together in a community service project making Sleeping Mats for the Homeless. He was excited and hopeful about God’s mission in Cedar Rapids and in the entire United Methodist Church. He was a good shepherd for his whole career, never hesitating to go to members of his flock who were struggling, even when his life was interrupted by their calls.
Charlie, as his siblings called him from childhood, reveled in bringing forth the stories hidden in the beautiful old fountain pens he restored. He loved having raucous, good times with friends and family. He now leaves behind siblings, Nancy and David, nieces, Laura and Sara, and nephews, Micah and Will. Several of their children and grandchildren have been blessed to know and love him as well. Charlie was preceded in death by his oldest brother Jim and by his parents William and Velma (Hockenberry) Layton. Charles was taken suddenly and tragically from us on July 7th, 2024, in a car accident in the Cedar Rapids area.
In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to Asbury United Methodist and Kenwood United Methodist churches in Cedar Rapids or to your local Humane Society, where he found his beloved yellow cat, Charlie (and yes, she came with that name.)
Services for Charles V. Layton will be held Monday, July 15th, at Asbury United Methodist Church, 350 27th Ave SW, Cedar Rapids, at 11:00 a.m. Chuck’s colleagues in ministry are invited to vest. Friends may greet the family at the church starting at 9:00 a.m. A luncheon will follow at the church. Interment will take place at a later date.
Christ called on St. Peter three times to feed his sheep before Peter got the message. With a BA from Wartburg College, Chuck Layton first planned to teach singing with his clear, strong voice. He loved singing but not teaching. Next, he thought to survive by his hobbies of fixing old vacuums and refurbishing old fountain pens - wishful thinking. Finally, he heard his true calling. He received his Master of Divinity at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary and in 1987 was ordained as a minister in the United Methodist Church (UMC).
Pastor Chuck’s first call was in Calamus, IA, where his heart led him to also serve as a firefighter with the Calamus Volunteer Fire Department. His care and concern for the fire and emergency services would later extend to working as an Iowa Highway Patrol Chaplain during his next three calls to UMC churches in New Hartford, Onawa, and Greenfield.
In Greenfield, he worked with the community committee that restored Greenfield’s historic opera house. This allowed him to combine his love of singing with his penchant for fixing old, forgotten stuff. When Chuck was called to First United Methodist Church in Forest City and the Clear Lake United Methodist Church, he found joy in working with farmers in those churches’ Fields of Faith Ministry.
From Forest City, he was called to beautiful St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Dubuque, where he was one of the founders of the “Fountain of Youth” program that helped many struggling young people find a different and better path. Although the discipline of his calling meant a solitary personal life for himself, he bravely spoke out in support of changes for the next generations of LGBTQ pastors in his beloved United Methodist Church. From St. Luke’s, Pastor Chuck was called to Waterloo First United Methodist Church. He was very much the good shepherd there, guiding that congregation through the mighty challenges of the COVID pandemic.
Pastor Chuck’s final call was to Asbury United Methodist Church in Cedar Rapids where he was well loved and found healing. He realized another church in Cedar Rapids was without a pastor and he knew that he was called to become the shepherd at Kenwood United Methodist Church, too. He joined both flocks together in a community service project making Sleeping Mats for the Homeless. He was excited and hopeful about God’s mission in Cedar Rapids and in the entire United Methodist Church. He was a good shepherd for his whole career, never hesitating to go to members of his flock who were struggling, even when his life was interrupted by their calls.
Charlie, as his siblings called him from childhood, reveled in bringing forth the stories hidden in the beautiful old fountain pens he restored. He loved having raucous, good times with friends and family. He now leaves behind siblings, Nancy and David, nieces, Laura and Sara, and nephews, Micah and Will. Several of their children and grandchildren have been blessed to know and love him as well. Charlie was preceded in death by his oldest brother Jim and by his parents William and Velma (Hockenberry) Layton. Charles was taken suddenly and tragically from us on July 7th, 2024, in a car accident in the Cedar Rapids area.
In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to Asbury United Methodist and Kenwood United Methodist churches in Cedar Rapids or to your local Humane Society, where he found his beloved yellow cat, Charlie (and yes, she came with that name.)
Services for Charles V. Layton will be held Monday, July 15th, at Asbury United Methodist Church, 350 27th Ave SW, Cedar Rapids, at 11:00 a.m. Chuck’s colleagues in ministry are invited to vest. Friends may greet the family at the church starting at 9:00 a.m. A luncheon will follow at the church. Interment will take place at a later date.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Charles Vern Layton, please visit our flower store.