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Oct 9th, 1941 - Aug 14th, 2016Funeral: 2 p.m. Friday, August 19, 2016 at Frank & Bright Funeral Home
Visitation: 5-7 p.m. Thursday, August 18, 2016 at Frank & Bright Funeral Home
Interment: Cisne Cemetery with full military honors
Dr. Vernon Delmer DeSelms, II, 74, of Flora, Illinois, passed away at his home, on Sunday, August 14, 2016, after an intrepid battle with cancer. He was born the first of four sons of Vernon and Doris “Jim” DeSelms on October 9, 1941, at home in Cisne, Illinois.
Dr. DeSelms is survived by his wife, Cindy, and two children: Lisa “Kaye” DeSelms Dent and husband Roy of Effingham and Vernon Delmer DeSelms, III, of Flora. He is survived by his grandsons, Adam “Conrad” DeSelms Dent and Jack Dent. His three brothers and their spouses also survive: Jan of Tokyo, Japan, Mark of Roseville, Illinois, and William of Roseville, Illinois. He is also survived by nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews.
Graduating from Cisne High School, “Dee” DeSelms went on to the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana, and University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry. He enrolled in the R.O.T.C. program while at the University of Illinois. Upon graduation from dental school, he was drafted for service in the Vietnam War and completed both officer training at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, and Field Medical Service School at Camp Pendleton, California, before being deployed to Vietnam. He earned the rank of Lieutenant. Upon return, he was stationed at Great Lakes Naval Station, where he met his partner in life and business, Cynthia Rose Conrad. They married in 1969 and soon moved to Flora to open his dental practice.
Dr. DeSelms was a member of Elks, VFW, and American Legion. He also served for many years on the Flora Airport Authority and the board of the First United Methodist Church of Flora. He loved gardening, fishing, spending time with family, traveling, music, family genealogy, and studying history. His knowledge of history was vast, and he devoted much of his time in retirement to studying Civil War history. Above all, he treasured spending time fishing and traveling with his two grandsons, with whom he attended the Civil War 150th Anniversary celebrations at Fort Sumter and other sites.
A funeral service for Dr. Vernon DeSelms will be 2 p.m. Friday, August 19, 2016, at Frank & Bright Funeral Home, 500 N. Main, Flora, Illinois. A visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Thursday, August 18, at Frank and Bright Funeral Home. Interment with full military honors will be in the Cisne Cemetery. Dr. DeSelms found and maintained family tombstones in the Cemetery and will be the sixth DeSelms generation to be buried there.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his honor to the DAV- Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250, and will also be accepted at the funeral home.
Oct 27, 1934 - Apr 21, 2024
May 31, 1946 - Apr 20, 2024
Aug 8, 1939 - Apr 18, 2024
Jul 20, 1934 - Apr 14, 2024
Aug 31, 1955 - Apr 12, 2024
So sorry for your loss. Prayers of comfort.
Our deepest sympathy to you. Dr. DeSelms was a great dentists and so kind.
I am so sad to hear of Dr. DeSelms passing. He was such a great person and dentist. Just part of Flora's history.
I am so sorry to learn this today, Cindy, and kids. Sometimes I feel old sorority friends, and other friends around Flora, are frozen in time, - as they were 25 years ago. My heart goes out to you - and may you have the comfort that only God can give you at this time. RIP Vern, you will see all of the history in heaven.
Cindy, Lisa, and Vernon, Very sorry for your loss. May God offer you peace and comfort.
So sorry for the loss of a good man.
Kaye, What a handsome man! And such an interesting life story. Again, my sympathy to your whole family on his passing. Barb
So Sorry for your loss. The Dr. was my dentist for over 30 years and was a good man.
We are sorry for your loss. Our prayers are with you during this difficult time. Dr. DeSelms was a nice man and a good dentist. He will be missed. RIP, Dr. DeSelms.
Kaye and family, We are so sorry for your loss. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Our deepest condolences!
We are so sorry to learn of Dee's passing. We were neighbors in Cisne. Please accept our heartfelt condolences. We will be praying for Dee's family.
My condolences to the family. I've known you my whole life.
So sorry to hear of Dr. DeSelms passing. Prayers of peace and comfort to the family.
My condolences and deepest sympathy for your loss. My heart aches knowing what you are going through. May the Lord wrap you in His love and give you peace, comfort, and courage during this sad time.
So sorry Lisa. God has a good man with him Hugs. Walterene and. Family
To the entire Deselms family: Know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. I remember the many early morning or after work conversations with Dee at Throgmortons. A truly caring person and health professional. He is at rest.
My condolences to the family. Dr. DeSelms was my dentist, and I also spent many hours in the home as a babysit-ee. May your memories be a blessing.
We are so sorry to hear of the passing of "doc". We kept praying that he would win his battle with cancer. Our thoughts and prayers for the family during this sad and difficult time.
I'm so sorry, I know you will miss him terribly. His life was too short. But he packed a lot in and made many wonderful memories. So glad he had good times with his grandsons. My prayers are with you all.
So sorry for the lost. I so enjoyed our long talks at breakfast many times at Grandma's or the East End. We talked a lot about how to work with the board at the Methodist Church. He was a big help to the church. He help so much with the church's finance and admintration.
We are so sorry for your lost he will be missed.
I am so sorry to hear this but he is in a better place.I'm sure he will be missed but not forgotten.
May God bless you all with the peace that surpasses all understanding and may his soul rest in peace. Thank you so much for keeping us all so informed during his final days. He was a great man whose memories will live on.
I feel honored and blessed to have known Vern DeSelms. He was truly a happy blessing in my life and I will miss him dearly. I am already missing the history lessons, the warm humor, and all the vast knowledge that he could spontaneously summons from his wonderfully gifted mind. Judie and I will have Cindy, Lisa, Vernie, and their families and all of his brothers and their families in our hearts, thoughts, and prayers. Your friend Bob
So sorry to hear the passing of such a kind and gentle Dr. and person. Thank you for your service to our great nation and to Clay County. Sherry
So sorry to hear of Dee's passing. Mom and dad thought so much of him and I have many fond memories of him when I was just a child. I know that you will miss him very much.
We are so sorry to hear of your loss. Praying for you all!
Frank & Bright Funeral Home
and Cremation Services
500 North Main Street
Flora, Illinois 62839
Phone : (618) 662-2141
Fax: (618) 662-4600
Email: [email protected]
