Vernon "Vern" Westbrock

Vernon LeRoy Westbrock, a deeply loved brother, husband, father, grandfather, friend and mentor to many, passed from our world on May 20, 2025. 

Vern was born in Sauk Centre, MN to Al and Regina Westbrock, the youngest of five brothers – Bernard (BA) of Marion, IA (deceased); Don of Orlando, FL; Charles (Chuck) of Sauk Centre (deceased); Jack of Maple Grove, MN – and younger sister, Janet of Sauk Centre. He was a hard-working farm kid with baby blue eyes and a beautiful tenor voice. Vern graduated from Sauk Centre high school in 1959 as a running back on the football team and their homecoming king. He suffered the loss of his father that same year, but went on to graduate from St. Cloud State and marry his beloved wife of 60 years, Bridget (Hiltner) of Melrose, MN. He later also earned a graduate degree from Winona State University. Vern and Bridget moved to Rochester, MN in 1968 where he taught auto mechanics at John Marshall High School for many years before moving on to industrial arts/phy. ed. in other Rochester area schools. Vern and Bridget raised three children, built three houses from the ground up, ran a Statuary business, and briefly sold Real Estate in the Rochester area. Vern never turned down a request to help others and even in his retirement former students regularly provided testimony to his teaching skills and mentorship. He was a member of Pax Christi Catholic Church where he was a eucharistic minister, sang in the choir, and attended bible study regularly. 

In addition to his wife Bridget, Vern leaves behind his three children and their families – Jon and Alicia (nee Balm of Rochester) and their children Lucian, Croix and Abrial Westbrock of Rosemount, MN; Shannon and Bruce Wadman and their children Ben and Martha of Minneapolis, MN; and Ryan and Kimberly (nee Verbout of Rochester) Westbrock of Seattle, WA, as well as a very large extended family and countless friends.

Vern fought a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease and was surrounded by loved ones as he left this struggle behind to journey to his eternal rest. 

There will be a brief memorial visitation followed by a Mass of remembrance at Pax Christi Catholic Church at 4135 18th Ave NW, Rochester, MN 55901 on Thursday, May 29, 2025 with visitation from 10 AM and mass at 11 AM. A livestream will be available for the mass at https://www.youtube.com/@PaxChristiChurch/streams. 

The family will also gather for a visitation at Patton-Schad Funeral Home at 418 Fifth Avenue SE, Melrose, MN 56352 on Saturday, May 31, 2025 from 10AM to noon, prior to a private burial at Saint Mary’s Cemetery in Melrose, MN.