When Joseph Lavern Miebach dropped from his parental tree on July 7, 1937 in Abesville, Missouri he began rolling.  Many mysteries surrounded this babe:  From the actual date of his birth to some people thinking he collided, at birth, with a soul from the Chinese-Japanese war that began on that same day.  He dreamed and acted out that dream.

He spent his youngest years dreaming in the southwestern Missouri Ozarks.  His dreams rolled him to Oregon in 1955.  He harvested crops, blew stumps to clear land, drilled for oil, and became a carpenter in Salem, Oregon.

There his dreams collided with a beautiful, young woman:  Judith Ann Long.  In 1958 he lived in and managed an apartment complex he bought on a handshake, while building a home for Judy and him.  When the home was finished, they married in 1960.  Their collisions brought about a few children, most of which have survived him.

Vern and Judy touched many, many lives for the positive during their 68 years together…co-owning and working a honey company, restaurant, cattle farm and locally appreciated equestrian center that is now Linn Benton Community College's.

With dad, many other occupations and side projects occurred: packaging plant superintendent, engineer, faba bean farmer, exercise equipment distributor, horse packer/wilderness trainer, and inventor of many things.  Have I mentioned that he dreamed?  He had a very curious mind…curious about how things worked. The result of that was him becoming a jack of all trades.

He had much energy and was a quick volunteer for a cause he felt worthy.  He was one of my heroes.  He strived for comedy and kindness.  He helped start a school, a church, and many youths on a healthy path.  He left a good legacy for his loved ones.

Albany has been Vern and Judy's home since 1960…dreaming the life, together.  He was (as we all are) but a moment's sunlight fading in the grass.  Smile on each other and think of Vern every so often.