Lavern Joseph Berezay

LaVern (Vern) J. Berezay, 95, passed away peacefully on Jan. 25, 2016, at his home in Astoria, Oregon, surrounded by family. He was born Nov. 20, 1920, in Cardston, Alberta, Canada, to Eugene Berezay and Edna Albiston.

He married the love of his life (of nearly 70 years) Irene Grace Henry on June 29, 1946, and they had five children. He worked on ranches and in the oil fields in Canada and Montana until moving his family to Missoula, Montana, in 1952. He worked for the Missoula County Road Department and was the road supervisor when he retired in 1983. For many years, Vern had a home-insulation business to help support his young growing family. He was a strong believer in good hard work ethics and taught his children and grandchildren those values.

Vern served with the Calgary Highlanders, 2nd Division, in France, Belgium, Holland, and Germany during World War II and was seriously wounded in Holland. He was at Normandy (D-Day plus 30), and because of his distinguished service, he was awarded the Belgian Croix de Guerre with Palm (equivalent of the Purple Heart), as well as several additional medals.

Vern was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many callings during his life. He and Irene served a mission for the church (1987-89) in the Arizona Phoenix Mission. Vern was a people person with a great sense of humor and witty personality. He lived his life serving others, and loving family, friends, church and country. Most of all he loved his savior Jesus Christ. He will be missed by all.

Vern and his wife, Irene, moved to Astoria, Oregon, in September 2014.

The funeral services and burial will take place in Astoria on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016. He will be buried in the Greenwood Cemetery in Astoria. Vern is survived by his wife Irene; daughters Donna (Jack) Piippo, Seeley Lake, Montana, Laverne (Tony) Norton, Nampa, Idaho, Lorie (Dave) Posey, Sandy, Utah; and sons Dave (Janet) Berezay, Manteca, California; Rick (Wendy) Berezay, Astoria, Oregon; and 24 grandchildren and 40 great-grandchildren (and many others through marriage); his brothers Lloyd (Lorraine) Berezay, Yuma, Arizona and Dean (Enola) Berezay, Magrath, Alberta, Canada and sister Marie Watson, Billings, Montana.

Services will be Saturday, Feb. 6 at 12:00 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 350 Niagara Ave., Astoria, Oregon.