Vernon Heeren

Vernon Heeren, 94, of Barrington passed away at Journey Care in Barrington on Sunday, April 15, 2018. He was born on December 9, 1923 in Gillespie, Illinois, the son of Margaret and Harry Heeren.

At age 19, after graduating from Austin High School in Chicago, Vern enlisted in the US Army Air Corps. During World War II he flew missions from bases in France and Italy. Returning home at the end of the war, he embarked upon a career in television advertising. A resident of Barrington for almost 60 years, he was a member of St. Anne Catholic Church, where he was a former organist, and To Be Joyful Again, Moving On, and the Barrington Rotary Club.

Vern was preceded in death by Florence, his wife of 49 years, in 1997, brother Earl, and sister, Eileen Kranz. He is survived by son James (Cheryl) Heeren, daughter Diane (Steve) Keucher, grandsons John (Katie) Keucher and Rev. Michael Keucher, four great-grandchildren, and his beloved friend Liza Oliveira. Vern’s family wishes to extend special thanks for the extraordinary care given by caregiver and friend Rose Lemon and by the staff members of Synergy, Lake Barrington Woods, At Your Services Home Care, and JourneyCare.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in the chapel of St. Anne Catholic Church, 120 N. Ela St., Barrington, on Tuesday, April 17, at 11:00, with Rev. Michael Keucher officiating. Visitation will take place at the church beginning at 9:30am.  Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Barrington. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a memorial gift to St. Anne’s Catholic Church or to one’s favorite charity.