Vern Richards was born in 1918 in Iowa and made his home in Iowa with his wife Myrtle on an Iowa Century Family Farm. Vern died in 2012, after living a lifetime of service to his family and community. He was a master of farming, electricity, plumbing, and informal engineering. Throughout his life he enjoyed his family, woodworking, beekeeping, gardening, constant informal learning, and tinkering with all things mechanical and electrical. Vern never met a stranger and he never met an engineering problem he could not conquer with some inspired wiring and random spare parts. Those that knew him and loved him will always remember his loving smile, intense curiosity, and the blue and white overalls that he wore on most occasions.