Verner R. Ekstrom, 89, beloved husband, father, and friend went home to be with the Lord, December 6, 2016. He was born September 19, 1927 to Franz and Edith (Ohrman) Ekstrom, two blocks from Wrigley Field. He was a lifelong Cubs fan and this was his year! He served four years as an enlisted Naval Correspondent on the Pacific Fleet and then as Naval Correspondent at the U.S. Naval Academy. During the Korean War, he was recalled to serve as Correspondent for the U.S. Bureau of Naval Personnel in Washington D.C. Verner graduated from Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, earning a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Mathematics. He also graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a Masters of Education in Mathematics. There his interest in statistics and numbers grew as he worked with the third computer ever built, the Illiac 1. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, earning a Masters of Science in Mathematics. He served as Director of Admissions at Colorado State University then moved to Norman, OK in 1970 as Assistant Provost and Registrar at O.U. Verner served on the OK Legislative Council for 5 years and worked 14 years at the Corporation Commission. His compassion for serving others was shown through his 46 year commitment to Okla. Lions Club where he served in various positions before becoming District Governor and then State Council Chair. His love for music was reflected in many ways with his singing in the Navy Blue Jacket Choir and in recent years the OKC Canterbury Choral Society. In his early years, Verne was an Arthur Murray Dance Instructor. He swept Jacque off her feet as they danced together for many years. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Carl Ekstrom, and daughters, Karyn Elizabeth and Christiana Louise. Survivors include his loving wife of 31 years, Jacque; daughters, Lynnea Ekstrom, Kimberly Minor and husband John; sons, Nils Ekstrom, David R. Jones, Jr. and Jennifer K. Jones, Jonathan R. Jones and wife Tamela; son-in-law, Harold P. Lawson; grandchildren, Leah Nunez and husband Ben, Alicia Greene and husband Nick, Anika Jaan and husband John E., Bo Minor and wife Lauren, Mary Beth Minor, Anne Marie Minor, Jacqueline Joy Minor, Michaela Chandler and husband Justin, Garrett Jones, Trey Jones, and Garrison Jones; great-grandchildren, Mirabella Nunez, and Kai Nunez. Funeral Service Tuesday, December 20, 2016 02:00 PM Heritage Baptist Church 14317 N. Council Road Oklahoma City, OK 73142