Vernon Zmolek

Vernon Zmolek, 77, lifelong resident of Garwin, Iowa, passed away May 19, 2026 at Bickford Assisted Living in Marshalltown, Iowa with his loving family at his side.

Private services for Vernon will be held. He will be laid to rest at the Garwin Union Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family for a later designation. For additional information or to send a condolence to the family, please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234.

Vernon Joseph Zmolek was born September 27, 1948 in Toledo, Iowa. He was the youngest of four children born to Fred and Wanda (Wrede) Zmolek. He graduated from Garwin High School in the Class of 1966.

It was in school when a pretty cheerleader named Linda Dewey caught Vernon’s eye. They went on to become high school sweethearts and were married October 22, 1966 at the St. Boniface Catholic Church in Garwin. Soon thereafter, their one and only Marsha was born who liked to joke she was the favorite daughter.

In his younger years, Vernon worked at the Wrede’s DX gas station. A perfect job for someone who always enjoyed the challenge of working on things to get them working and keep running smoothly. If something had an engine on it, Vernon was interested in it. His love of working on cars led to him joining a race team which included his life-long friend, Larry Konicek. Their team worked many nights getting the #29 ready for him to race around the Marshalltown Speedway for several years. He said it was an expensive hobby, but he sure loved doing it.

Vernon later went on to work for the Tama County Highway Department starting out hauling rock and eventually became the Motor Grader Operator out of the county maintenance shed located in Garwin. He took pride in his job and mastered the craft of leveling and shaping the many miles of dirt and gravel roads of his Tama County Route. After 42 ½ years of Iowa winters, he decided he’d cleared enough snow with the caterpillar grader and retired his skill set.

Vernon always enjoyed the simple things in life like watching a good old western movie, classic cars and trucks and enjoying a nice cold beer. He was known to be quite the collector. If he had one of something that meant he had at least six. He wasn’t going to be caught without having something he needed. Vernon will be remembered as a man who often kept to himself. It was as if he knew his good nature spoke louder than words to those who called him family or friend.

Vernon was preceded in death by his loving wife Linda of 58 years whom he greatly missed after her passing. He was also preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Sandra (Zmolek) Eberhardt and Janet Zmolek.

Vernon will be greatly missed by his daughter, Marsha; son-in-law, Mike Gaskill; grandson Steven Gaskill and sister Myrna (Zmolek) Muench.