05/11/2010
Vera Mae (Bucklew) Bacus was born on February 13, 1920, in rural Knoxville, Iowa. She was the youngest of three children born to Eugene and Anna (Garrison) Bucklew. Vera’s mother died when she was six years old. She was raised by her Uncle Lon and Aunt Mary Anderson, and Gray Anderson.
Vera graduated from Knoxville High School with the class of 1938. Education was important to Vera. She encouraged her family to work towards higher education in college. Vera met the love of her life, Bert Bacus after he saved her from drowning at a local swimming hole. They were later married on October 9, 1938, a union that lasted more than 71 years.
To this union two children were born, a son, Kenneth, and a daughter, Carol. As a couple, Bert and Vera enjoyed card playing and vacations with their friends the Bettertons, Dennison, and Smiths. Their long-distance driving trips across the country were legendary. Vera worked for many years at the VA Hospital.
Bert worked at Hawkeye Farm Equipment, at the Chevrolet dealership in Chariton, and part-time at the Hy-Vee distribution center for 20 years. He finally retired at age 82.
Bert passed away on May 11, 2010, at the age of 91. Vera’s health also began to decline and she became a resident at the Accura Nursing Center in Knoxville. She passed away there on September 20, 2018, at the advanced age of 98 years.
Those left to mourn her passing are her son Kenneth Bacus and wife Frances Gimino of Mt. Prospect, IL; sisters-in-law, Betty Cooper 
and Marilyn De Zwarte, brother-in-law, Bill and Ada Bacus, all of Knoxville, six grandchildren, David Bacus, Kathryn Grau, Mike Bacus, Glen Bacus, Melanie Sickle and Scott Sickle and their families.
Vera was preceded in death by her daughter Carol Sickle, who died on January 29, 2014, at the age of 67; her parents; her brothers, Dale and Don Bucklew, brother-in-law, Berle Bacus, and sister-in-law, Melda Kaster.
Vera and Bert were active members of the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) for many years.