Dr. Vernon “Doc” Helt, 90, of Dakota City, Nebraska, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 22, 2015 at Holy Spirit Retirement Home. Abiding by his wishes, he was cremated.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30am, Monday, March 30, 2015 at Waterbury Funeral Service of Sioux City, 4125 Orleans Ave, Sioux City, Iowa. Visitation will be held one hour prior to service time at the funeral home. Burial with military honors will be at Memorial Park Cemetery, Sioux City, Iowa.

Vernon was born on July 28, 1924 in Sioux City, Iowa, the son of Floyd and Ellen (Peterson) Helt. He attended Arnolds Park HS graduating in 1942 and enlisted in the US Navy shortly after graduation. Vernon was proud to serve his country aboard the USS Harry Lee during WWII and took part in five invasions in both the European and Pacific theaters. He was honorably discharged in 1945.

Vernon married Evelyn Droll on October 11, 1944 in Sioux City, Iowa. After his discharge from the Navy he enrolled in college in San Diego, CA. In 1947 their first child was born and he moved back to Sioux City and finished pre-med at Morningside College. He graduated with honors from Morningside College in 1949. That fall he was accepted into Medical School at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. Vernon graduated with honors from Medical School in 1953 and completed his residency in Sioux City. He started his medical practice in Moville, Iowa in 1954 and moved his practice to Sioux City in 1963. Vernon retired from practicing medicine in June of 2000 at the age of 75. He was President of the Woodbury County Medical Society in 1978 and served on numerous other medical boards and committees. He was also a member of the Abu Bekr Shrine Wrecking Crew and served as President of the Wrecking Crew in 1987.

Vernon was a long time member of the Hawkeye Rifle & Pistol Club and the Sioux Gun Club in Sioux City. He enjoyed all types of shooting, especially sporting clays and trap shooting. He was a life member of the NRA and the ATA. He also shot at many gun clubs in the area as well as the Iowa State Trap Shoot and the Grand American Trap Shoot in Ohio. Being a very good shooter, Vernon won many events and had dozens of trophies and prizes. Vernon also loved photography and took thousands of photographs, many of which were displayed in the halls of St Luke’s and many other public buildings and businesses. He loved his family and enjoyed seeing his grandkids and great grandkids. He also enjoyed good food with friends and family and had a great sense of humor.

Survivors include his wife of 70 years, Evelyn, his sons: Victor and his wife Julie of Sergeant Bluff, Vincent of Maple Valley, WA, and Varick and his wife Candace of Wildwood, FL, daughters: Ellen Kerr and her husband Don of Le Mars, IA and Erika of South Sioux City, NE, 17 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren and a brother, Paul and his wife Sarah of Iowa City, IA.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his son, Valdemar.