Vernon "Vern" Nathan Cornelius

Vernon “Vern” Nathan Cornelius, of Cuba, Missouri, formerly of Wesco, Missouri, passed away Saturday, February 25, 2023 in his home at the age of 78 years, 1 month and 22 days. He was born January 3, 1945 in St. Louis, Missouri to James and Ethel Freeman Cornelius.

After graduating from Central High School-St. Louis in 1962, he worked seven years for the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, following which he served honorably in the U.S. Army, including a tour in Vietnam. He received a U.S. ARMY Commendation Metal, Vietnam Service Metal and a U.S Army Good Conduct Medal all in 1969. Upon his return from Military duty, he was employed for more than twenty-eight years for Emerson Electric Company in St. Louis as a computer systems designer.  Throughout the years, Vern had many accomplishments such as designing and implementing Sales Forecasting Systems for the U.S., North American and World-wide Markets along with coordinating data captures and analysis. After his retirement in 2000, Vern relocated to Crawford County, MO.

On October 27, 2001, he was united in marriage to Bonnie Sargent Patrick at the Steelville Presbyterian Church. At this point, a new time in his life became blessed with additional family members.

Vern was a great family man and a loving father. He loved their life together at Indian Hills Lake. Vern was a social, active man who loved spending time with family, gardening, playing pool, fishing and anything computer related. He also enjoyed card and board games, taking golf cart rides, cruising on the lake, attending plays and spending time with their cat, Samson.

He was a member of the Cuba United Methodist Church and was involved with small group Bible studies. As a member of the Indian Lake Booster Club, he participated in many of the organization’s activities. Civic involvement was important to Vern and during his life he was a part of numerous organizations including membership in Toastmasters International and past President of the St. Louis Chapter of the International Customer Service Management Assn.

His family and friends will always remember Vern as a responsible, honest and compassionate man who was an articulate lover of art and music. His generosity, wit, wisdom and loving spirit will be greatly missed.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Ethel Cornelius; sister, Barbara J. Price; and brothers, Christopher J. Cornelius, Laddie D. Cornelius and David A. Cornelius.

He will be missed by his wife of twenty-one years, Bonnie Cornelius of Cuba, MO; two daughters, Dionne K. Patrick (Jon) Haskell of Steelville, MO and Katie S. Patrick (Shawn) Robertson of Daniel, WY; sisters, Martha B. Sills of Fulton, MO and Ethel J. Piskulic of O’Fallon, MO; brothers, Leroy S. Cornelius of Louisville, KY and Renick L. Cornelius of St. Louis, MO; numerous grandchildren; great-grandchildren; other relatives; and many friends.

The Family received friends from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 2, 2023 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville, MO.

A Celebration of Life was held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, March 3, 2023 with Rev. Jerry Beers officiating. Memories and a poem were shared by Dionne Haskell. Special music of "Groovin", "Hallelujah" and "Don't Worry About a Thing" was played.

A full Military Honors Service was held immediately following the service by the U.S. Army and the St. James VFW Post 5608.

An Inurnment will be held at a later date in the Steelville Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Power of Hope Equestrian Center, 3 Farmhouse Lane, Steelville, MO 65565.

The Cornelius Family was served by the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville, MO.

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