Earl Ernest Vanus Earl Ernest Vanus passed away peacefully on Friday, November 24, 2017 at the age of 89 in Orem, Utah. Earl was a recent resident of Orem and resided at the Lake Ridge Senior Living center. He will be sorely missed by his friends there including residents and staff. His family wishes to thank them all for their care and concern for Earl. Earl was born April 26, 1928 in Valier, Illinois to Earl Joseph Vanus and Beulah Mae Hardell Vanus. Earl attended high school in Indianapolis, Indiana. Earl had a distinguished career in the military. He actually served in three different branches including the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy and the U.S. Air Force. A patriot of the greatest generation, his military career started while he was yet a teenager and straight from high school. After enlisting in the Army he was assigned to a military unit that was part of occupational forces in Korea. His job was to guard against insurrections in Kunsan, Korea, an area of the country once occupied by Japan. He was honorably discharged from the Army in March 1948 as a corporal and returned to Indianapolis, Indiana where he met his future wife, Margot Marie DeLashmutt. After their meeting he moved to Canton, Ohio to be close to her and her family and went to work for General Electric Supply. They married in April, 1949 and made their first home in Canton. In August 1949, Earl joined the Naval Reserve and was called up for the Korean conflict. He was sent to the Naval Amphibious Base in Little Creek, Virginia, where he served until he was discharged as a petty officer 2nd class in 1953. While Earl was serving, the young family suffered the loss of twin sons, Michael and Richard, who were born prematurely and passed away at only a few days old. A third son, Steven Randall Vanus, was born October 1952 while they were stationed in Virginia and living in Norfolk. A month after returning to Canton to work at General Electric, Earl had joined the Air Force. "I always wanted to be in the Air Force, so it was in the back of my mind (when discharged from the Navy)." So Earl decided that he would go into the Air Force for the next years of his life until he retired. Serving in the Air Force, Earl was 1st posted to Fairborn, Ohio. He was then assigned to the 6000th Support Group in Tokyo, Japan and then to Homestead AFB in Florida. While Earl was still in Japan, their 4th son, Craig Allen Vanus, was born in July 1955. Earl was stationed for a few years in Youngstown and Delaware, Ohio. Thereafter Earl was stationed in Thule, Greenland on the distant early warning line during the cold war era. Earl was then posted with the Strategic Air Command at Dyess Air Force Base in Abeline, Texas. He completed his Air Force service at Utah State University in Logan, Utah where he served with the ROTC. He was again honorably discharged as acting 1st Sergeant in September 1969. Earl was not without his sense of humor. He had been kidded over the years about being in three branches of the military. He missed the marines he would joke... "They only wanted a few good men." But his family knows better... "He was a very good man." Earl was a remarkable influence for good among those who knew him, because of his unshakeable faith and testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was always reading and learning and teaching and sharing. He was never afraid to speak up about what he knew and believed. He was sealed to his wife and children in August 1967 in the Salt Lake Temple. The knowledge that he would be reunited with his family someday has sustained him and his family for many years. Earl is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, and his sons, Michael, Richard and Steven, and his great granddaughter, Emily Wright. He is survived by his son Craig (Lori), his step-sister Darlene (Chuck) Johnson, his grandchildren: Randy (Stacie) Wright, Ryan (Nicole) Vanus, Hayley (Scott) Hollander, Eric (Amy) Vanus, Sandra (Jon) Rasmussen, and Shannon Vanus, and 13 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters-in-law Pat Miller and Dion DeLashmutt, and a brother-in-law Carter (Sue) DeLashmutt. Friends and family may attend a viewing from 9:30 - 10:45 a.m. Funeral Services are scheduled for Tuesday, November 28, 2017, 11:00a.m. at the Sharon 3rd Ward, 430 South 700 East, Orem, UT. Viewing Interment to follow at the Orem City Cemetery with Military rites.