It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Vernon J. Monkman, a retired employee of former MITA member Six-S Paving, on November 1st, 2019, at the MediLodge Nursing Home in Milford, MI. He was 83 years old.
Vern was born December 9th, 1935 to Frank and Agnes Monkman in Sault Ste. Marie, MI. He was a graduate of Sault Ste. Marie High School and attended Michigan Tech.
He joined the Michigan National Guard in November of 1958, served for over 5 years in the Army Corps of Engineers and was honorably discharged.
Vern married Patricia Smith of Sudbury, Ontario, Canada in 1959
and moved their growing family to the Detroit area in 1962, working as a Civil Engineering Technician and Estimator for a number of concrete and soil testing organizations. After a 4-year stint in the Chicagoland area, Vern and the family returned to the Detroit suburbs in 1985.
Vern was known for his sense of humor, his work ethic and integrity, and being regarded as one of the leading concrete experts in quality, estimation and site problem solving. Notable large projects he worked on include the I‐96 Jeffries and Lodge expressways, the Detroit Renaissance Center, and the Joe Louis Arena. Vern retired from Six‐S Paving in 2007.
Vern was preceded in death by his eldest son, Michael Monkman. He is survived by his ex‐wife Patricia Hanadel (nee Smith) and their four children Robert Monkman (Christina), Linda Monkman, Neil Monkman (Stella), and Timothy Monkman, as well as grandchildren Cale, Maddie, Ethan, Leona, Shirley, Stacey, Sarah, Amanda, step‐grandchildren Becky, Rachel, Patrick and Sean, and fifteen great-grandchildren.
Visitation and Funeral Services will be held at the Phillips Funeral Home, located at 122 W. Lake St., South Lyon, MI 48178 on the 10th of November, 2019.
Visitation will be held from 10 am to 12 pm, with immediate funeral services starting thereafter. Vernon will be buried with military honors in Sault Ste. Marie.
MITA wishes to extend our deepest condolences to the entire Monkman family during this difficult time, as well as to the long-time friends and colleagues that Vern had in the heavy/highway construction industry.
