HABERKORN, Vernon A.

Photo courtesy: Telegraph Herald

HABERKORN, Vernon A. (Sherrill, IA, Oct. 6, 1930--Dubuque, IA, Nov. 11, 2022) The son of Edmund and Frances (Meyer) Haberkorn, Vern graduated from LORAS ACADEMY in 1948 and married Rose Marie Brimeyer on October 18, 1952, in Sherrill at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church. Vern was employed by the Milwaukee Road and ILLINOIS CENTRAL RAILROAD from 1947-1960 and JOHN DEERE DUBUQUE WORKS from 1960 until his retirement in 1989. (1)

Vern coached, managed and played on several semi-pro baseball teams. He founded the Dubuque Boys Independent Baseball League in Dubuque in 1968, where he served as president for 20 years and was a board member and umpire for 28 years. (2) In 2018 when the Independent League board heard that he was moving back to Dubuque after living in Marion, Iowa he was invited to the 2019 registration event at KENNEDY MALL. In April, 2019 he was asked to throw out the ceremonial first pitch of the season. (3) He was involved with baseball as a manager, player, league officer or umpire for over 50 years. Vern was inducted into the DUBUQUE COUNTY BASEBALL HALL OF FAME in 2009 and received a Certificate of Recognition from the State of Iowa House of Representatives in 1996. (4) In his later years, Haberkorn stated that he based the independent league on discipline, sportsmanship, motivation, and friendship. It lasted, he believed, because the coaches and volunteers continued to follow those guidelines. (5)

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Source:

1. "Vernon Haberkorn," Obituaries, Telegraph Herald, Online: https://www.telegraphherald.com/obituaries/article_32adcc34-6502-11ed-9686-17f53cb1c398.html

2. Ibid.

3. Leitner, Jim, "Haberkorn Nurtured Youth Baseball," Telegraph Herald, November 16, 2022, p. 1A

4. "Vernon Haberkorn..."

5. Leitner, p. 3A