BURLESON — Vern Allen Roddahl left his earthly home Friday, September 14, 2012. Memorial service: 7 P.M., Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012 at Shepherd’s Valley Cowboy Church, 2915 S-I35W, Burleson, TX 76028. Interment: Private at Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery. Memorials:  Floral tributes may be delivered to the church on Tuesday. He was born on a farm outside of Staples, MN April 30, 1932 where he lived until he graduated from high school in 1950. Upon graduation he enlisted in the US Air Force after serving with the Minnesota National Guard while in high school. Dad had a long and successful career in the USAF, starting as a junior enlisted man, in 1957 he was selected to attend Officer Candidate School, graduating as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1958. At the same time he completed his Bachelor’s Degree, sparking a series of promotions and career assignments, in the missile maintenance field, that culminated with his promotion to Full Colonel in 1976. After which he earned a Master’s Degree from University of Southern California. His final duty assignment was as Deputy Maintenance Commander at Grand Forks AFB, ND. In 1981 with 31+ years of service to his country, Dad made the decision to retire from the USAF. He went on to serve his country for another five years as a civilian in North Andover, MA before finally retiring to spend more time with the love of his life Margery LaVon Askerooth Roddahl. Vern met Marge in 1954 while on leave in Minnesota. While on assignment to Washington, D.C. they married in 1955 and began their adventures together. Together they created a family, with the birth of their daughter Suzanne Renee in 1956 and his adoption of Jeffery Lee, Marge’s son from a previous marriage in 1964. They went on to live in many states and in the Far East during their military career. After their final retirement they traveled extensively throughout the US and Canada before custom building their final home outside of Burleson, TX in 1987. They enjoyed their rural lifestyle together until Margery’s passing in August 2010. Vern was an avid outdoorsman, having grown up in circumstances where his hunting, fishing and trapping skills put meat on the table. Throughout his life he continued to enjoy, at every opportunity, hunting and fishing in many states across the country. After retiring he and Marge would take annual vacations to Northern Minnesota to fish during the spring and fall. He also enjoyed bird hunting trips to Nebraska. He and Marge enjoyed time together with their participation in multiple bowling leagues. Vern was an accomplished bowler or, “Kegler” as he referred to himself, earning several trophies. He was also an accomplished woodworker, creating many wonderful gifts of clocks, framed pictures and other items for his family and many friends. He took great pride in the appearance of his home and property, spending many hours designing and implementing landscape designs. He was an avid wild animal lover, enjoying many trips to national parks with his family over the years, and the especially enjoying a variety wildlife in his own backyard. Vern’s sense of humor, love of life and commitment to family will be sorely missed by his children, surviving extended family and many friends.