Vaughn M. Escher

Vaughn M. Escher, 92, of Mason City, died Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit. Memorial services will be held 2:00 Tuesday, May 24, 2016 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 213 N. Pennsylvania Avenue with Pastor Kathy Graves officiating. Per Vaughn’s request, he will be cremated and there will be no visitation. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Trinity Lutheran Church or Hospice of North Iowa.

Vaughn was born November 12, 1923 in Pine River, Minnesota the son of Silas L. and Minnie (Baumgartner) Escher. He graduated from Pine River High School. Vaughn moved to Mason City in 1941. He served in the US Army during WWII, where he participated in the Battle of the Bulge. Vaughn enlisted in 1942 and received an honorable discharge in 1945. Vaughn married Joan G. Burnett April 16, 1947 in Mason City and they recently celebrated 69 years of marriage. Vaughn was the long-time office manager at State Brand Creameries (AMPI) retiring in 1986. In 1969, Vaughn purchased Birdsall’s Ice Cream Co. Birdsall’s continues to be owned and operated by the Escher family. Vaughn was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church where through the years he served on numerous boards as well as a church usher. Vaughn was also a member of the Mason City Rotary Club, having been named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Foundation, Elks Lodge, VFW and an avid golfer, scoring a hole-in-one.

Vaughn is survived by his wife, Joan, of Mason City; 2 sons, Stephen (Ruth) Escher of Santa Rosa, California and David Escher of Mason City; grandchildren, Anna, Will, Leah, Linae and Paige; half-sister, Connie (Tom) Huffman of Port Angeles, Washington and one nephew Fredrick Michael (Mary Ann) Burnett.

Vaughn was preceded in death by his parents and 1 sister, Velva Habigar