Vernon E. Dorrington, 86, Cook, Minn., died Feb. 16, 2013, at Essentia Health-Duluth. He was born July 6, 1926, to the late Joseph and Anna (Poyer) Dorrington, at home on the family farm in Park Falls.
He joined the U.S. Navy in 1943 at age 17, and served until 1946.
He married Verla ‘Tudy’ Newman on Aug. 31, 1946, in Grand Rapids, Minn.
In 1948 he enlisted in the U.S. Army and received rank as sergeant, where he was stationed at Camp Hood, Texas. He also earned his pilot’s license and served until 1951. After his honorable discharge, he moved his family to Burlington where he was employed by J.I. Case Co. driving semi from coast to coast and Canada. He retired from Case in 1980 and received a safe-driving award for logging over two million miles without an accident.
After retirement he and his wife moved to Togo, Minn., where he did odd jobs and was a supervisor and board member of Carpenter Township. He lost his eyesight in 2000, at which time they sold their home and moved to Cook, Minn.
He was a member of the Teamsters Union, a lifetime member of the VFW and member of the Burlington Flying Club.
He and his wife loved snowmobiling, and he was past president of the Burlington Blizzard Bugs snowmobile club.
Survivors include his wife of 66 years; son, Dale (Roberta) Dorrington, Burlington; daughters, Deborah (John Sr.) Chaulklin, Cook, and Toni (Tim) Starling, Jacksonville, Fla.; brother, Lyle (Betty) Dorrington, Baraboo; grandchildren, John (Heather) Chaulklin Jr., Jeff (Tina) Chaulklin, Angie and Jim Dorrington, Nicole and Michael Starling, and Dan Dorrington Jr.; great-grandchildren, Jeffrey, Austin, Christopher, Ivy, Levi, Conner, Jacob, and Casey.
He was further preceded in death by sons, Donny and Danny Dorrington; sister, Cecil Smith; brothers, Gordon and Marshall Dorrington.
Services were held Feb. 23 in Cook, Minn. Mlaker Funeral Home, Cook, served the family.
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