Vernon L. Ainsworth, 79, of Shawano, passed away Thursday, Aug. 7, 2014, in Appleton. Born on Oct. 29, 1934, in Shawano, he was the son of the late Henry and Pauline (DeSwarte) Ainsworth.
On Aug. 17, 1963, Vernon was united in marriage to Betty Thimke in Shawano. Together they made their home on his family farm, which was established in 1898. Vernon worked on the farm until retirement in February 2014. Besides working on the farm, Vernon served as district director for 24 years at Equity Livestock Co-op. He was the board chairman for the town of Waukechon for 17 years and on the Shawano County Board for over 29 years. Vernon was a very active member and leader of the United Methodist Church in Shawano. Besides being busy with all of those duties, he was also a part of the Historical Society, the FFA Alumni and the Volunteer Fire Department.
He loved planting seeds and watching them grow, attending auctions, watching the Green Bay Packers, and attending and supporting the Shawano County Fair. Most of all, though, he enjoyed his grandkids – attending all of their various events and having them along with him as he worked and taught them his way of life.
Vernon is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Betty; his children, Mark (Patricia) Ainsworth and their children, Ashley, Dustin, Courtney and Brett, Paul (Wendy) Ainsworth and their children, Alyssa and Nicole, Susan (Steven Arndt) Ainsworth and her children, Jacob (fiancée Hayley), Derek and Leah, Christopher (Nichole) Ainsworth and their children, Isabella and Avery; his brothers and sister, Kenneth (Audrey) Ainsworth, of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Gordon (Margie) Ainsworth, of Bonduel, Phyllis Ward, of Powell, Ohio, Crystal (Dr. Herb) Sandmire, of Green Bay, Pauline (Bob) Buchner, of Alpena, Michigan, John (Margie) Ainsworth, of Shawano, Patricia (Tim) McGuire, of San Jose, California, and Peggy (John) Bastar, of Shawano; and many nieces and nephews.
Vernon was preceded in death by his parents and one brother-in-law, Dan Ward.
Funeral services will be held at noon Thursday, Aug. 14, 2014, at the United Methodist Church of Shawano with the Rev. Allen Christensen officiating. Visitation will be on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014, at the Swedberg Funeral Home in Shawano from 4-8 p.m. and again on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2014, from 11 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial will be in the Woodlawn Cemetery.
In February of this year, his sister asked. “When are you going to stop working and do what you want to do?” Vern’s reply was. “Maybe I am doing what I want to do.”
www.swedbergfuneralhome.com
In February of this year, his sister asked “When are you going to stop working and do what you want to do?” Vern’s reply was “Maybe I am doing what I want to do.”
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