Vernon Edward Schrant was born on July 27, 1933 in Walker, Kansas to Edward L. and Caroline Anna (Hammerschmidt) Schrant.  One of five children, the family made their home on a farm near Walker.  Vernon attended school in Gorham, Kansas and graduated from Gorham High School with the class of 1951.

On April 23, 1953, Vernon was united in marriage with Armella Marie Wasinger in Ellis, Kansas at the historic St. Mary's Catholic Church.  They were blessed with nine children: Michael, Terry, Timothy, Deborah, Susan, Sandra, Patrick, Thomas, and Kelly.

The young couple started with making their home in Great Bend, Kansas where Vernon worked for his uncle in the grocery store.  He then started working in the oil field.  He was a pumper for Petroleum Inc. for twenty years before becoming the completions foreman for Texas Oil & Gas, later becoming Marathon, and worked there for ten years.  He then worked for a short time for Woolsey.  Moving for his work, the family moved to Kingman, Kansas and lived there a few years before moving to and living in St. Leo, Kansas for several years.  They then moved to Cunningham, Kansas for two years before settling in Harper, Kansas in 1972.  Later in life with all the kids out of the house, the couple moved to Anthony, Kansas and Armella passed away in early 2017.

Vernon was a member of the St. Joan of Arc Parish Community, attending St. Patrick Catholic Church in Harper for several years.  Vernon was a hard worker, a handyman, and really a jack of all trades.  He could fix anything when it came to their vehicles or around the house.  Vernon loved to fish, kept a big garden for a number of years, was an avid K-State fan, enjoyed cutting trees for firewood, painting stone yard art and making birdhouses, and was quite the horseshoe thrower.

After a long, hard-fought battle with his health, Vernon passed away at Country Living in Anthony on August 30, 2023 shortly after his 90th birthday.  He is preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Caroline Schrant; wife, Armella; oldest son, Michael Joseph Schrant; grandson, Darrel Lee Schrant, great-granddaughters, Addison and Allison Schrant; and siblings: Everett Schrant, Norman Schrant, and Regina Irvine.  Vernon is survived by his children: Terry Lee Schrant (Pamela) of Wichita, Kansas, Timothy Schrant (Lisa) of Wichita, Deborah Ann Barnes (George) of Wichita, Susan Marie Meyer (Brian) of Winfield, Kansas, Sandra Kay Schrant of Wichita, Patrick L. Schrant (Kimberly) of Harper, Thomas Edward Schrant (Tanja) of Wichita, and Kelly Scott Schrant (Rebecca) of Columbus, Nebraska; sister, Francis Schroeder (Bud) of Prescott, Arizona; nineteen grandchildren; 47 great-grandchildren and 2 on the way; numerous nieces and nephews; other relatives and many friends.

Friends may view and register Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Prairie Rose Funeral Home in Harper.  Family will be present from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. to receive friends.

Recitation of the Rosary is 10:00 a.m. and Mass of Christian Burial is 10:30 a.m. Saturday, September 2, 2023 at the St. Patrick Catholic Church, Harper, of the St. Joan of Arc Parish Community of Harper County with Father Bob Pinninti officiating.  Burial follows at the Harper Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Patrick Catholic Church and can be sent in care of Prairie Rose Funeral Homes, 613 W 14th St ~ Harper, Kansas 67058.