Vernon "Rooster" Sletten

Vernon D. “Rooster” Sletten, 97, formerly of East Moline, IL, went home to the Lord peacefully on Saturday, May 27, 2023, at home where he had resided with his daughter, who was his caregiver, and special granddaughter, for the past five years.

Visitation will be Thursday, June 1, 2023, from 10am to 11am at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 1450 30th Ave., East Moline. Funeral services will be held at 11am on Thursday, June 1, 2023, at the church. Burial will be at Greenview Memorial Gardens, East Moline. Due to severe allergies, the family requests no flowers. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family.

Vernon was born on August 6, 1925, in Wilton, WI, the son of Alf and Hilda (Raiten) Sletten. He graduated from Norwalk High School in 1943. Vernon married Mary Hanratty in Cashton, WI, in 1954. They were divorced in 1980, although they remained friends until her passing in 2003. He was drafted in the United States Army, where he served from 1955 to 1957. During his service he was stationed in Texas and Japan. After his honorable discharge from the Army, he moved to Illinois to be near other family members who also had recently moved to Illinois to obtain employment at International Harvester. He had to move back to Wisconsin to help his father on the family farm when he lost his sight. He then returned to Illinois and worked at John Deere Harvester, East Moline, in the foundry division and later as a forklift operator, retiring in 1985.

Vernon was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, East Moline, for over 60 years. He served as head usher and held the privilege of being the oldest member of the church. Vernon was very strong in his faith and read the Bible every day. Prior to becoming home bound, Vernon enjoyed his Thursday morning Bible classes and was presented a Cross for four years of perfect attendance.

Vernon enjoyed collecting model cars and farm tractors, and he loved dirt track races and NASCAR. He enjoyed watching old westerns and NASCAR. Vernon loved country music dancing which earned him his nickname of “Rooster”.

Survivors include 3 daughters, 6 grandchildren, several great-grandchildren, 1 sister, and 2 brothers.

He was preceded in death by his son in 1989, and 1 brother.

Vernon’s family wishes to express a special Thank You to his nurses, Maggie and Kristy.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.vanhoe.com.

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