Obituary of Henry Vernon Punt

Henry "Vernon" Punt, 90, of Stickney, passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 27, 2019, at his home under hospice care. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 am Friday, May 3, 2019, at Aurora Reformed Church, in Aurora Center, SD. Graveside services will take place at Silver Ridge Cemetery near Stickney. Visitation will be from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Thursday at Koehn Brothers Funeral Home in Stickney, with a prayer service beginning at 7:45 pm.

In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred.

Henry ‘Vernon’ Punt was born on January 7, 1929, in Sioux County, IA, the son of Peter and Gertrude (Kroon) Punt. In 1939, his family moved to the Aurora Center, SD area. Vernon attended country school through the eighth grade. At the young age of 15, he began working at the Aurora Center Garage. He was united in marriage to Phyllis Jean Bruinsma on January 26, 1950, in Stickney, SD. The couple started farming in 1950. Vernon began his lifelong career in trucking in 1956. In 1957, the family moved to a farm near Stickney that would be their home for 59 years. In 2016, Vernon celebrated 60 years of Punt Trucking. At that time, he retired from the business, and he and Phyllis moved into Stickney.

Vernon was proud to be part of the Stickney community and was involved in many community activities. Over the years, he served on the Township Board, School Board and Community Club. He was a charter member of the South Dakota Trucking Association. Vernon was also a member of Aurora Reformed Church. Throughout his life, Vernon enjoyed following his children in their activities, bowling, and the Punt family camping trip.

Vernon believed in living his life through hard and honest work. It was those to traits Vernon instilled in his family, encouraging them to work hard. Faith was also very important to him; he and Phyllis raised their family the be followers of Christ.

Grateful for having shared his life is his wife of 69 years, Phyllis Punt, of Stickney, SD; four sons, Robert (Brenda) Punt, of Stickney; Dale (Nancy) Punt of Denver, CO; Alvin (Gail) Punt, of Sioux Falls, SD and Roger (Kandy) Punt, of Stickney, SD; two daughters, Mary Lou (Arlan) Burggraaf, of Brandon, SD and Betty (Bob) Polly of Mitchell, SD; 14 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren; one brother, Adames Punt (Sarah), of Stickney; one sister, Shirley Tolsma, of Mitchell and one sister-in-law, Philomena Punt, of Sioux Falls, as well of a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Vernon is preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Richard, Dwaine and Gershom Punt and two sisters, Harriet Kuyper and Donna Hattendorf.

Condolences may be sent to the family through www.koehnbrosfuneralhome.com