Vernon Chesbro

Vern Chesbro, 84, was born on October 1, 1925 at the old Ottawa Hospital. He died Saturday, January 23, 2010 at his home in Ottawa. On Wednesday, January 27th, a small funeral for family and close friends will be held at Grace Episcopal Church in Ottawa, followed by a public memorial celebration of Vern’s life to be held at the Ottawa University Chapel at 2:00 PM. A reception will follow at the Ottawa Country Club. He was cremated. Private committal of cremains will take place at Highland Cemetery, Ottawa. Vern was the eldest son of Vernon M. “Jack” and B. Ferne Chesbro. He had one brother, Charles R. Chesbro. Vern was a graduate of Ottawa High School and of the University of Denver. He was an Eagle Scout and served in both the U. S. Merchant Marine and the U.S. Navy during World War II. Vern married Phyllis A. Hart in 1946, a sixty three year union that lasted until his death. Vern is survived by Phyllis and their three children; Scott and wife Linda, Sue and husband William, & Linda, and husband Larry. They have six grandchildren; Ben Waymire, Dan Waymire, Jason Chesbro & wife Caroline, Sarah Chesbro, Michael Wedman & wife Annie, and Scott Wedman, and two great grandchildren; Andrew and Lola. Vern was very dedicated to and very proud of his family. Next to his family, Vern’s greatest passion was politics. In 1940, he served four months as a page in the Kansas Senate which kindled a life long interest. He became a leader in the Kansas Republican Party, serving as Executive Director, Republican State Chairman, and as a member of the National Republican Committee. He was a strong believer in the two party system and was respected by leaders in both parties. During Vern’s active political years he served on a number of State and National committees. He was on the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS) board for ten years, serving two as chairman. He was on the Advisory Committee for Ambassador Clayton Yeuter, U.S. Ambassador for Trade and was a member of the Weigand Tax Commission. He was a board member of the Contel PAC and as chairman or campaign advisor to many political campaigns. During his lifetime he was privileged to have met six of our U.S. Presidents. Vern’s professional life began following his graduation from the University of Denver. He managed Shawnee Country Club in Topeka and in 1950 returned to Ottawa to own and manage the North American Hotel along with his mother. In 1958, he left the hotel business and joined a small start up telephone company based in Ottawa. This original company grew quickly and changed owners several times before becoming Continental Telephone Corporation (Contel). Vern held several management positions with Contel, including assignments in Arkansas, Missouri, California, Washington, and Alaska. He also had overseas assignments in Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica, Barbados, Granada and the Arab Republic of Egypt. Vern retired in 1983 in Atlanta as a vice president of the corporation. In recent years Vern served as a vice president of the Patriots Bank Group based in Garnett, an association he enjoyed very much. Following his retirement, Vern pursued an active community career, serving many times as a board member or committee member with the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce, the Ottawa-Franklin County Economic Development Organization and the Ransom Memorial Hospital Charitable Board. He was an officer and director of several small companies in the Kansas City & Lawrence areas. Vern was a member of the Ottawa Lodge #18, AF & AM for over 50 years. He was a 56 year “life” member of the Ottawa Elks Lodge #803. Vern was also a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, and the Ottawa Kiwanis Club. The family suggests memorial contributions to Grace Episcopal Church or Cystic Fibrosis Foundation or B. Martin Peck Animal Shelter c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary 235 S. Hickory St. Ottawa, Kansas 66067. An online guest book is available and condolences may be sent to the family at www.dengelmortuary.com .