Tribute

PECATONICA--Vernell J. Sarver died in the care of his family in his Pecatonica home on Sunday, October 5, 2025. He was 84. Vernell fought a valiant fight with several “damn” cancers since 2021. He was born January 24, 1941, to Martin and Elva (Davis) Sarver and lived for a time with his family in Beloit and Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, finally moving to a farm in rural Pecatonica in the late 50s. He attended schools in Wisconsin and graduated from Pecatonica High School in 1960, where he was an active thespian and football player, part of Pecatonica’s Route 72 Championship Football team. Vernell married Linda Kraut at the Pecatonica United Methodist Church on January 16, 1960, and they began their life together in rural Rockton, where Vernell farmed briefly for his uncle. From there, he entered the manufacturing industry and completed classes in business, manufacturing, and engineering at Rock Valley College. Vernell and Linda then moved to Pecatonica and designed and built a home crafted by Linda’s uncle Rudy Kraut and paneled with wood from his grandfather’s saw mill. For many years, Vernell and Linda hosted many family gatherings in their home with produce grown in Vernell’s annual large garden and fruit trees. He worked as an assembler for most of his working life, then became a service technician for manufacturing companies primarily in the packaging industry, including Rexham Corporation, Rockford Automation, and Lamb Assembly and Test. His work took him all across the United States and to countries around the world for extended periods of time, including England, Italy, Australia, Mexico, and Canada. He never failed to bring back many photos, stories, and souvenirs from his travels for his family. He also enjoyed spending time with his wife and making trips to “the boat” for a little gambling until Linda’s death in 2019. Vernell was an avid sportsman, enjoying trap shooting, hunting, and fishing. He enjoyed hunting trips with friends and his brother-in-law to Montana and took annual fishing trips to Canada for decades until cancer surgery and treatment prevented his participation. However, Vernell took one last trip to his favored Helliar’s Resort in Nestor Falls, Canada, with his son-in-law and grandson in late August before his death. Vernell supported the outdoors by being an active member of the local Ducks Unlimited Chapter for many years. He enjoyed attending gun shows, playing video poker and Texas Holdem with family and friends, being a sly bidder at auctions, and having morning coffee at the “Table of Knowledge” each day at the Stonewall Café in Pecatonica. He was also a double cappuccino drinker at Rosie’s Coffee Shop. Vernell was also interested in Pecatonica and served as a township trustee until the time of his death. Vernell donated his body to science in the hopes of benefiting others and helping them enjoy many years on the earth he loved.

Friends & Family

He is survived by his daughters Penny (Russell) Wiegert of Winnebago and Sarah Rogin of Baileyville; three granddaughters; Elizabeth (Chris) Palmer, Rockford; Suzanne Wiegert, Rockford and Mary (Zach Haberle) Wiegert, Loves Park; three grandsons; John (Emily) Wiegert, Pecatonica; Max (Brindi) Rogin, Beloit, Wis., and Mason Rogin also of Beloit. He is also survived by two great-grandchildren, Zoey and Logan Haberle, his sister Avle (Russell) Nimtz, Belvidere, brother Lavern Sarver, Rockford, and brother-in-law Leon Kraut of Danville, Kentucky, in addition to several nieces, nephews, and cousins.