Funeral Services for Vernon Holmes, 95, of Panora formerly of Bagley will be 10:30 am Saturday, January 16, 2010 at the United Methodist Church in Bagley, IA.  Visitation will be after 11:00 am Friday, January 15, 2010 at Slininger-Rossow Funeral Home in Jefferson with the family present to greet friends from 6:30pm to 8:00 pm.  Interment will be in the Dodge Township Cemetery in Guthrie County, Iowa.  Slininger-Rossow Funeral Home in Jefferson is in charge of arrangements.

Vernon R. Holmes, son of Ralph and May (Robinson) Holmes, was born at Panora, Iowa on January 10, 1915.  He died January 13, 2010 at Lakeside Village in Panora, Iowa, at the age of 95 years.  Vernon was the oldest of three children, the others being Doris (Holmes) Clark and Harold Holmes. 

Vernon grew up on a farm southeast of Bagley and graduated from Bagley High School in 1933.  He met Frances Sprague at a neighborhood dance.  Vernon and Frances were married on December 8, 1935.  To this union, four children were born:  Larry, Gary, Rodney and Roxanne.

Vernon and Frances moved to a farm southeast of Yale shortly after they were married.  In 1940, they moved to Bagley and purchased the Duntman Grocery.  In 1944 they sold the grocery and bought a corn shelling business from Clyde Kinney.  In 1950, they moved to a farm northeast of Bagley, where Frances had been raised.  They returned to Bagley in 1964 where Vernon worked as a parts man for Gilliland Implement.  In 1998 they moved to Jefferson and lived in retirement until moving to Lakeside Village on Lake Panorama in December of 2007.

Vernon was very active in the Bagley Community, serving as mayor for a number of years.  He was a founding member of the Guthrie County Youth Foundation.  He served as a 4-H leader and was a lifetime member of the Masonic Lodge.  He was a league bowler for many years and loved to play pool.  In retirement he enjoyed woodworking, which resulted in many valued keepsakes for his family.

Vernon was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 73 years, Frances; a sister, Doris Clark; and a daughter, Roxanne.

Vernon is survived by three sons: Larry of West Des Moines; Gary (Connie) of Glidden; and Rodney (LuAnne) of Salt Lake City, Utah; six grandchildren: Rick (Tracy) Holmes; Geni (Jeff) Griener; Michael Holmes, Kevin (Amiee) Holmes; Kari (Bart) Thomas; Scott (Amy) Holmes; and fourteen great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and a brother, Harold Holmes of Boone, IA.