Edmunds County Tribune -

Laverne “Vern” Edmund Diede, 78, of Broomfield, Colo., entered his eternal home with the Lord on August 16, 2018. Vern was visiting his brother Jim in Aberdeen at the time of his passing.

Laverne was born in Ipswich on April 11, 1940 to Edmund Herman Diede and Ella Bertha (Rempher) Diede. He was the third of eight siblings. He attended Ipswich grade school through high school, graduating in 1958.

In 1959, he enlisted in the United States Army where he served his country overseas in Germany and Austria. While crossing the ocean to and from the United States, he worked on board the transport ship with his main duty being bread baker and slicer. He came back home in 1961.

In August of 1963, Vern married Joyce Virginia Walter, also of Ipswich. Together they had two children, Steven Laverne in 1965 and Cynthia Lou in 1968. After attending and graduating drafting school in Yankton, the couple moved to Arvada Colo.

Vern worked as an engineer/draftsman for Bell Labs, AT&T and Lucent Technologies. He loved the intricacy of designing and repairing circuit boards for telephones.

In January of 1988, he married Janice Fuller of Thornton Colorado. Jan has three children to whom Vern became step-father to, Greg, Mark and Paula.

Vern and Jan met at a singles dance class and continued years of dance lessons together. Any time there was music of any kind, they were out on the floor doing the two-step. Vern loved to dance, sing, fly remote control airplanes, golf and most of all, have a great time.

Shortly after retiring from Lucent in 1996, Vern obtained his CDL license and started driving an 18-wheeler. He loved traveling the open road, stopping to take pictures and videos and taking in what he called God’s country from one coast to the other. The whole family enjoyed regular e-mails and CD’s Vern created, titled “Tagalong with Trucker Vern.” After retiring completely, Vern and Jan enjoyed spending the winters snow-birding in Arizona.

Vern was preceded in death by his parents, Edmund and Ella Diede; and brothers, Darv and Larry Diede.

He is survived by his wife Janice Marie Diede; son, Steven Laverne Diede; daughter, Cinde Lou Welty (Diede); son (in law), Jason Paul Welty; and granddaughter, Shayna Rachelle Welty. Vern is also survived by Jan’s children Greg, Mark and Paula and their children, Ashley, Aaron, Brant, Grace and Michael. Vern is also survived by siblings, Darlene (Darv) Diede, Edna (Ken) Schmitt, Darlene (Arnie) Johnson, Linda (Les) Kuebler, Lois (Gene) Comfort, Jim (Brenda) Diede; and many nieces and nephews.

Vern will be remembered as the kindest, gentlest soul with the warmest smile, personality and larger than life sense of humor. He will be deeply missed by all.

Funeral Services are Thursday, August 23 at 10:30 a.m. at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, Broomfield, Colo. He will be laid to rest at Fort Logan National Cemetery.

Arrangements by Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, Thornton, Colo.