Vern Henry Balster
August 6, 1959 — March 22, 2010
Vern Henry Balster, II, 50, passed away peacefully, after a heroic fight with brain cancer, on March 22, 2010, in the family home in Marion where he was under the loving care of his wife, Janet, and his parents, Don & Llewellyn Bolster.
He is survived by his two sons, Evan D. of Ames, Iowa, and Benjamin J. Balster of Cedar Rapids, and step-daughter, Michelle LeClere Balster of Cedar Rapids; his 2 sisters, Martha (David) Haynes of Marquette, Michigan, and Jane Balster of Bloomington, Minnesota; four aunts, an uncle, close cousins and loving friends.
Vern lived life to the fullest. His love of nature, and its creations, and ecology was nurtured by Boy Scout Troop #35, where he earned his Eagle Scout and Order of the Golden Arrow. At 16, he made his solo air flight. At 17, he saved and paid his own way on a summer European tour with Regis High School and graduated from there in 1977. In 1982, Vern graduated from Iowa State University where he was a member of the ATO fraternity.
He loved to read, write, ski, swim, jog, work with wood, and to bicycle. He rode many R.A.G.B.R.A.I.s, sometimes riding out to the starting point; took many trail rides with Team Voodoo, enjoyed the Brr ride, the Fool’s Ride, etc. and local trails. Vacations in the Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, found Vern on the beach or leading tourist bicycle eco-tours into the Sierra Madres Mountains, for his friends at Bike Mex.
Vern was a hard worker, his first job as a Gazette paperboy gave him a contest win of his first bicycle, which became one of his life’s obsessions. He owned and operated a popular Cedar Rapids night spot named “Spankys;” held a Real Estate Broker’s license and loved restoration of older homes and woodworking. This led to the formation of his company, “Home Werks of Eastern Iowa.”
His Joie De Vie and deep caring for others will make him dearly missed. His family gives deep thanks to all those friends who worked on and contributed to the fundraisers and for giving Vern their loving support.
A Celebration of Vern’s life will be hosted by his parents and Craig & Pricella Campbell at Campbell-Steele Gallery in Marion, on Saturday, March 27, 2010, from 5 – 9 p.m.
Friends are encouraged to bring tangible memories to be compiled into memory books for his children. Donations may be made in Vern’s name to Hospice of Mercy or to a memorial bench and beautification of Vern’s favorite Linn County bike path, C/O Donald E. Balster, 1776 8th Ave., Marion, IA 52302.
He is survived by his two sons, Evan D. of Ames, Iowa, and Benjamin J. Balster of Cedar Rapids, and step-daughter, Michelle LeClere Balster of Cedar Rapids; his 2 sisters, Martha (David) Haynes of Marquette, Michigan, and Jane Balster of Bloomington, Minnesota; four aunts, an uncle, close cousins and loving friends.
Vern lived life to the fullest. His love of nature, and its creations, and ecology was nurtured by Boy Scout Troop #35, where he earned his Eagle Scout and Order of the Golden Arrow. At 16, he made his solo air flight. At 17, he saved and paid his own way on a summer European tour with Regis High School and graduated from there in 1977. In 1982, Vern graduated from Iowa State University where he was a member of the ATO fraternity.
He loved to read, write, ski, swim, jog, work with wood, and to bicycle. He rode many R.A.G.B.R.A.I.s, sometimes riding out to the starting point; took many trail rides with Team Voodoo, enjoyed the Brr ride, the Fool’s Ride, etc. and local trails. Vacations in the Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, found Vern on the beach or leading tourist bicycle eco-tours into the Sierra Madres Mountains, for his friends at Bike Mex.
Vern was a hard worker, his first job as a Gazette paperboy gave him a contest win of his first bicycle, which became one of his life’s obsessions. He owned and operated a popular Cedar Rapids night spot named “Spankys;” held a Real Estate Broker’s license and loved restoration of older homes and woodworking. This led to the formation of his company, “Home Werks of Eastern Iowa.”
His Joie De Vie and deep caring for others will make him dearly missed. His family gives deep thanks to all those friends who worked on and contributed to the fundraisers and for giving Vern their loving support.
A Celebration of Vern’s life will be hosted by his parents and Craig & Pricella Campbell at Campbell-Steele Gallery in Marion, on Saturday, March 27, 2010, from 5 – 9 p.m.
Friends are encouraged to bring tangible memories to be compiled into memory books for his children. Donations may be made in Vern’s name to Hospice of Mercy or to a memorial bench and beautification of Vern’s favorite Linn County bike path, C/O Donald E. Balster, 1776 8th Ave., Marion, IA 52302.
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