Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Buker, Mech, Myhrwold
----Source: Greenwood Gleaner (Greenwood, Clark Co., Wis.) 15 Aug 1963
The death of Art Buker in 1959 precipitated a change in Vern's life pattern. Art had been associated with the Farmers and Merchants Bank since 1914. After his death, Mrs. Mae Buker and son Cy though it best to sell the family interest. Vern, at this time, operated his own cheese factory south of Loyal (Clark Co., Wis.). One night his wife said, "Why don't we buy it?" Vern conferred with Milwaukee and Chicago banking firms. "None of them threw cold water on the idea, so we went ahead with it."
Although Vern had no experience in banking, he had majored in commerce at college. Moreover, he had lifetime experience in dealing with farmers and their problems, and he knew most of the families in the community He enjoys the personal relationship with the people; he will even try to talk someone out of making a loan, if he knows that their liabilities would put an unbearable burden upon their ability to make a return on the investment. He says that he enjoys the variety of experiences in banking; there is no routine – every day is different.
Vern's father was a cheesemaker, and three sons became licensed cheesemakers. During high school, they drove milk trucks in the morning, and helped in the factory after school. Vern worked with his father until he was called for military service. He served two years as an athletic specialist in the Navy; one of these years was spent in the Philippine Islands. When his dad sold out to Stewart's in 1946, Vern worked as field man for Blue Moon Cheese at Thorp.
Vern then bought his own plant south of loyal. During the twelve years he was there, he took numerous prizes at the Marshfield and Chippewa Falls fairs. Someone told me that at the Greenwood Dairy Days, he took all the prizes. His specialty was "small styles" -- Daisy, Longhorn, Midget, etc.
Elaine Buker came into his life when Vern's family moved here during his second grade at school. She and Vern dated together during high school, married, and now have two children: Vicki Ann, who is thirteen, and Michael, who is nine.
Always keenly interested in sports, he played football and basketball in high school and college, and minored in physical education at Whitewater State College. During the war, he coached the Greenwood Indians each afternoon, after making cheese all forenoon. He enjoys all kinds of hunting; he has hunted moose, but has not yet collected a trophy. He also hunted pheasants five of six seasons in South Dakota. Forestry always attracted him; he now has an 80-acre tract of timber north of Mead Lake, which he has under a forest management program, of selective cutting.
How should one measure success? To be able to raise one's children properly and educate them. But Vern's interest in this area is not confined to his own family. He is a firm believer, and active worker, for whatever can be done for the youth of the community. We have a problem of preparing our youth to adjust to the life of university campus or large city. A good Scouting program, and summer recreation, and a good school will help.
Of her husband, his wife says: "Vern was brought up to on hard work and responsibility. He has laways worked hard. I may be prejudiced, but I think that he is a success." And that is a good tribute, not only to a man, but to the wife who believes in him, and inspires his best.
