Vernon A. Bertrand, age 94, passed away in the comfort of his own home on August 29, 2019.  He was born on the family farm in Kankakee County, near Bonfield, Illinois, on June 23, 1925 to the late Leroy and Rhea (Martin) Bertrand.  Vern attended school in Bonfield and graduated from St. Patrick's High School in Kankakee, where he met Elizabeth Messier.  They married on October 12, 1946.  Following high school, Vern served in the US Army Air Corps.  He later started a radio and TV repair shop in Chicago, and then moved to Wheeling, Illinois, where he worked for TeleMation, a closed-circuit TV company.  He and Betty raised their family in Wheeling, and moved to Lodi in 1976, where Vern started and operated his own cable television company which served the communities of Prairie du Sac, Merrimac and Lodi.  He sold that company and retired in the early 1980's.   Once retired, Vern and Betty traveled worldwide and enjoyed their winters at their home in Florida.  He loved music and singing, and sang with the Arlingtones Barbershop Chorus and with various barbershop quartets for many years.  He was also a very skilled woodworker and made many beautiful projects throughout the years. He was a beloved father who looked forward to spending time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Vern is survived by his children Cindy (Al) Smith, Lee (Peg) Bertrand, Laura (Rob) Presberry, Marty (Tara) Bertrand, Mary Sue (Rich) Benigni, Annette Bertrand, Janette Bertrand, Carol (Darrell) Schneider, Brian (Michele) Bertrand, Michelle (Eric) Bertrand, and son-in-law Rick Pfeffer; 20 grandchildren, many great-grandchildren (with four more on the way), and his sisters-in-law Joan Bertrand and Peg Paschke.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth; daughter, Angela Pfeffer; two sons, Kenny and Joseph; siblings Carmen (Roy) Snodgrass, Virgil Bertrand and Merle Bertrand.

Per Vern's wishes, a family celebration of his life will be held at a later date.  Interment will take place in the Garden Bluff Cemetery, West Point Township.

Vern's family wishes to thank Brightstar Care and Agrace Hospice for their wonderful care.

Online condolences may be made at hooversonfuneralhomes.com.