Vernon R. Schimmel, age 86, a resident of Wyndemere Retirement Community in Wheaton, and formerly of Medinah, died Tuesday, June 20, at home. He was born on November 29, 1919 in Michigan City, Indiana to Arthur and Laura (nee Schumacher) Schimmel.

After studying engineering at Purdue University, Mr. Schimmel served in WWII as a 1st Lieutenant in the Army Air Corps. He flew 35 combat missions as a B-17 bomber pilot while stationed in Thurleigh, England. For nearly 40 years, he worked for Symons Corporation as a sales and marketing manager. He also worked in research and development and held many patents for concrete forming equipment innovations.

Vern is survived by five children, Kris (Ken) Schulze of Hamilton, OH, Menda (John) Landry of Western Springs, Laura Shea of Plainfield, Mollie (Sam) Galioto of Holland, MI and Jeffrey (Kelly) Schimmel of Geneva, 11 grandchildren, Michelle (Frank) Bruno, Brent Schulze, Lori Pawlowski, Allison (Chris) Paskevicz, Brad Schulze, Jillian Meyers, Brian Galioto, Bill Galioto, Lindsay Galioto, Kyle Schimmel and McKenna Schimmel, two step-grandchildren, Jennifer and Jeffrey Landry, three great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Thelma, nee Thompson, in 1997, his parents and one sister.

A visitiation will be held on Friday, June 23, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Main St. in Wheaton. A funeral service will be held at the St. John Lutheran Church, Main and Seminary St. in Wheaton on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. Friends may visit with the family from 9 to 10 a.m.

Interment will follow at Lakewood Memorial Park in Elgin.

Memorials may be directed St. John Lutheran Church.