Vernon Hepker

Vernon F. Hepker, 95, of Norfolk, Nebraska, formerly of Kalona, Iowa, passed from this life on Saturday, December 27, 2025, at the Norfolk Veterans Home. His funeral will be held on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at 10:00 AM at the Peterseim Funeral Home in Kalona. The service will be available via Livestream on the Beatty Peterseim Facebook and YouTube Pages. Burial will follow at the Sharon Center Methodist Cemetery north of Kalona. The family will greet friends on Monday, January 5, 2026, from 3 - 6 PM at the funeral home. A Celebration of Life and Masonic Service will be held at Westridge United Methodist Church in Norfolk, NE on Saturday, January 3 at 1pm. A memorial fund has been established for Iowa 4-H Foundation or donors choice.

Vernon Fay Hepker was born December 15, 1930, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the son of Earl and Laneita (Reed) Hepker. He attended rural schools in Linn County, graduated from Toddville High School, and graduated from Iowa State University in 1954, with a bachelor's degree. Vernon served in the United States Army during the Korean War from 1954 – 1956. After Vernon's Honorable Discharge from the US Army, he returned to Linn County, Iowa and farmed with his father and began a milking herd. Vern would remain an active dairy farmer until 1977. In 1977 he sold the dairy herd and worked for the Dan Robinson family south of Masonville, IA. In 1979, he moved to Wall Lake, IA and became a Dairy Herd Improvement Association supervisor. Vernon was united in Marriage with Vera E Fountain on March 3, 1959, at the Salem EUB church in Cedar Rapids. To this union 1 daughter, Debbie was born. In 1990, Vern and Vera returned to eastern Iowa where he worked for Riverland Poultry of rural Kalona, IA. In 1997, he retired, but that didn't stick and he worked as Courtesy Help for Fareway Grocery in Iowa City for many years. And volunteered many places. Vera passed away in September of 2014. At that time, Vern moved to Norfolk, NE to be closer to Debbie and his grandchildren. In the spring of 2017, Vernon moved to the Norfolk Veterans Home. He remained there until his death. Vernon was a former member of the Kalona United Methodist Church, a current and active member of Westridge United Methodist Church in Norfolk, NE, and also held memberships in the Fellowship Masonic Lodge and the Wellman American Legion. Vernon rarely missed a Sunday worship. The staff at the Veterans Home knew Vern had to be ready for church on Sunday mornings! Vern's favorite pastimes were word search books, enjoying walks outside and most important spending time with his family- especially the 3 great-grandson's. Though he wasn't able to meet his great-granddaughter here on Earth, he was excited to know we would soon add a baby girl to the family.

Survivors include his daughter Debbie and Son-in Law Steve of Pierce, NE. Grandson Nick, his wife Taylor and their 3 sons, Arlo, Bart and Clint of Norfolk, NE; Grandson Gus and his wife Adrianna and soon to be baby girl of Pierce, NE; Jake; and Granddaughter Melinda and her husband Greg of Columbus, OH. His sister Marlene Johnson of Oviedo, FL. And 1 sister-in-law, Ruth Fountain of Kalona, IA. Also many nieces, nephews and friends. 

Vernon was preceded in death by his wife, parents, infant brother Layton, Bother-in Law Gary Johnson, Brother in-Law-Omer Fountain, Brother-in-law and Sister-in-law Richard and Anna May Geyer.