E. "Bert" Roberta (Blackledge) Vermillion

Bert’s memorial service will be 2:30 p.m., Sunday, June 25th at the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 1409 S. 8th Ave. E. in Newton.

The family will greet friends from 1:30 p.m., Sunday, June 25th until the time of service at the church. The family will also greet friends immediately following the service with a coffee time at the church.    

A private family inurnment will be held at a later date at the Newton Union Cemetery in Newton.     

Memorials to in Bert’s honor may be left to the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. Memorials may be left at the church the afternoon of the service or at the funeral home in Newton. Memorial may also be mailed to the funeral home, please add, Attn: Vermillion Family on the envelope.

Elda Roberta “Bert” Blackledge Vermillion the daughter of Glenn and LeOra Emmack Blackledge was born on April 18, 1931 in Newton, Iowa.

Bert was baptized and confirmed as a teenager and she was a graduate of Newton High School in 1948. After high school she worked as a secretary in the Sales Department at the Maytag Company.

On July 2, 1950, Bert was united in marriage with Jim M. Vermillion at the First United Methodist Church in Newton. They were blessed with three children, Mike, Tim and Linda. She left her job at Maytag to fulfill her real passion of caring for, raising and enjoying her family. This passion continued throughout her life. Bert and her family were able to enjoy many family vacations and simply enjoyed spending time together.

In addition to her family, Bert was involved in the Newton community where she was involved in PTA, Questers and part of the group that helped develop Progress Industries. She and Jim were part of a group of 10 couples from First Lutheran Church in Newton, who helped start Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in 1957. She served in many capacities at Holy Trinity, including congregation council. Her favorite community group was “Mother’s Night Out Club.” Surviving members of this club are Mickey Simpson, Phyllis Snook, Phyllis Yeutsy, Dee Butler, Verla Jay and Pat Koppin.

Bert started and maintained for 17 years “New Friends” a business that welcomed newcomers to town.

Bert is best known for her kindness, compassion and willingness to help others.

Bert died on Tuesday, June 20, 2017, at her home in Newton surrounded by the love of her family. She was 86. She was preceded in death by her parents, grandson, Samuel Pugh; brother, Leslie Blackledge; sisters, Juanita Shuey, Marvelyn Burk, Barbara Knox and Shari Simbro.

Those left to cherish Bert’s memory are her husband, Jim of Newton; sons, Mike of Urbandale and Tim of Pleasant Hill; daughter, Linda (Bret) Pugh of Newton; her grandchildren, Jacy and Paden Pugh and Zach and Alex Vermillion; brother, Leland (Beth) Blackledge; sister, Jan Smith; and brother-in-law, Kris (Sandy) Simbro; many nieces, nephews, other family and friends.

 Service Information