Vercell Chestnut
May 3, 1919 — June 21, 2011
Vercell M. Chestnut, 92, of Ankeny and formerly from Cedar Rapids and Waverly, Iowa, passed away Tuesday, June 21, 2011, at Mercy Hospice in Johnston, Iowa. Services: 11:00 a.m. Saturday, June 25, 2011, at Hope Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids by Pastor Dan Clark-Bridges. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. Friday at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service and one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial: Harlington Cemetery, Waverly, Iowa.
Vercell was born May 3, 1919, to Fred & Myrtle (McDermott) Chestnut in Waverly. He was the youngest of eight children. He graduated from Waverly High School in 1938. He was one of the key players on the basketball team and also participated in football and track. He married Velma Persson on May 20, 1939, in Waterloo. They had three children, Sharron (Warren) Nolte of Waverly, Gerry (Robert) Waddell of Ankeny, and Michael Chestnut of Cedar Rapids.
There are ten grandchildren; nineteen great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and seven brothers & sisters. Vercell made many friends with his special sense of humor and was loved and respected by his wife, his three children, grandchildren, and his many nieces and nephews.
Vercell enlisted in the Army in 1944 and after his training in Camp Roberts he served overseas in Germany where he was on the front line. He earned several service medals including the bronze star and was honorably discharged in 1945. Vercell attended Coyne Electrical School in Chicago. He worked for Carnation, the city of Waverly Municipal Electrical Plant and Schield Bantam. He later took a job in Cedar Rapids where he was chief electrical inspector when he retired in 1985.
Vercell was a 50 year member of White Shrine of Jerusalem in Cedar Rapids, Mason #116, Eastern Star, Retired Men’s Golf Association, VFW Waverly, Brotherhood of Electrical Workers #405 and Hope Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids.
Vercell was born May 3, 1919, to Fred & Myrtle (McDermott) Chestnut in Waverly. He was the youngest of eight children. He graduated from Waverly High School in 1938. He was one of the key players on the basketball team and also participated in football and track. He married Velma Persson on May 20, 1939, in Waterloo. They had three children, Sharron (Warren) Nolte of Waverly, Gerry (Robert) Waddell of Ankeny, and Michael Chestnut of Cedar Rapids.
There are ten grandchildren; nineteen great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and seven brothers & sisters. Vercell made many friends with his special sense of humor and was loved and respected by his wife, his three children, grandchildren, and his many nieces and nephews.
Vercell enlisted in the Army in 1944 and after his training in Camp Roberts he served overseas in Germany where he was on the front line. He earned several service medals including the bronze star and was honorably discharged in 1945. Vercell attended Coyne Electrical School in Chicago. He worked for Carnation, the city of Waverly Municipal Electrical Plant and Schield Bantam. He later took a job in Cedar Rapids where he was chief electrical inspector when he retired in 1985.
Vercell was a 50 year member of White Shrine of Jerusalem in Cedar Rapids, Mason #116, Eastern Star, Retired Men’s Golf Association, VFW Waverly, Brotherhood of Electrical Workers #405 and Hope Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids.
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