Obituaries : Rod Usher

Rod Usher

VINTON – Rodney Lynn “Rod” Usher, 58, died Saturday, December 19, 2015, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City following a brief illness.

Memorial visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Monday, December 28, 2015, at Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home in Vinton. At 2:00 p.m., there will be an informal time for sharing memories with Rod’s family, followed by a luncheon at the Vinton American Legion at 3:00 p.m.

Rod was born December 23, 1956, in Vinton, Iowa, the son of Levitt Byron “Ted” and Lola Mae Johnson Usher.

Rod worked for Barkdoll Tuckpointing and mowed for Evergreen Cemetery. He did maintenance for Karr Properties and also owned his own lawn care service.

He enjoyed riding his Harley, working on race cars, doing yardwork and mowing, and getting coffee every morning at John’s Quik Stop. He enjoyed helping people.

Rod is survived by his children, Misty (Mike) Thomsen of Garwin and Braxton Usher of Vinton; seven brothers: Theodore (Deb), Kenneth, Leroy and Jerry Usher, all of Vinton, Bob Usher of Colorado, Don Usher of California and Marshall (Jayne) Usher of Illinois; seven sisters: Pat Dronebarger of Vinton; Betty Larimer of MN; Marcia Stevey of California; Margaret Larson of Oelwein; Joann (Jake) Lawrence of Cedar Rapids; Vicki Crowder of Belle Plaine; and Terri (Jerry) Stout of Van Horne; and 3 grandchildren: Jacob, Tailynn and Logan Tharp.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Jim Usher; and brother-in-law Harry Larson.

A memorial fund has been established.

Condolences for the family may be left at vsrfh.com.