Vernon A. Niebuhr

Surrounded by his family, Vernon Alfred Niebuhr passed away peacefully on November 1st, 2022. He was 93. Vernon was born on the family farm in Granville, Iowa on June 16th, 1929. Vernon was the oldest son of Alfred and Hertha (Mews) Niebuhr. He spent his childhood and teenage years working on the family farm and attending school. He graduated from Paulina High School in 1947. He was drafted into the Korean Conflict in 1950 and went to Korea after first stopping in Japan to get his assignment. By divine intervention he was selected for artillery school which kept him safely away from the front line. After the war he used the GI bill to attend A&E school at Northrop Institute of Technology to become an airline mechanic. After graduating Vernon got a job at Douglas Aircraft Company until he got hired by United Airlines.

In 1957 his younger brother Lyle was killed in a car accident. As a result, Vernon took a leave of absence from United to return to Iowa to help his aging father with the farm. Before returning to Iowa though he took a short vacation to Hawaii. There he met the love of his life and soulmate Mary Ann. The two were married in 1959 in San Francisco and then moved back to Iowa where their son, Paul, was born a few years later. Vernon moved his young family back to California shortly after Paul’s birth to return to United. He purchased a house in San Mateo where Julie, Shelley and David were welcomed to the family. In 1973 Vernon moved his family to a larger house, where he remained for almost 50 years.

Vernon loved to travel taking his family on trips around the country and world. He was a positive role model for all who knew him. We will miss his sage advice and positive outlook on life. “Better Days Ahead” was his mantra. Taking care of his family was his passion. A better father could not be had. Vernon was preceded in death by his wife Mary Ann Niebuhr, parents Alfred and Hertha Niebuhr and his three younger siblings, Lyle Niebuhr, Shirley Campbell and Robert Niebuhr. He is survived by four children: Paul (Laura) Niebuhr of San Mateo, Julie (Bill) Zoellin of Shelter Cove, Shelley (Walter) Shores of Morgan Hill, and David (Tina) Niebuhr of San Luis Obispo, eight grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

A celebration of life will be held in early 2023 with details to be announced.