Lavern Norma Stephenson (Erickson)
January 8, 1917 — December 29, 2013
LaVern Norma Erickson Stephenson passed away on December 29, 2013, at Windmill Manor in Coralville, Iowa. Funeral Service: 11:00 a.m. Thursday, January 2, 2014, at the Presbyterian Church in Springville by Rev. Dr. Karen Downey Beals. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial: Springville Cemetery. Arrangements by Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center in Marion.
She is survived by a son Jerry (Cheryl) Nelson of Fort Meyers, Florida; a daughter Judith (Gerald) Kuhnle of Jefferson, Wisconsin; six grandchildren, Kristine (Bryce Ruroden) Nelson of Ely, Iowa, Roxanne Leffert of Atkins, Iowa, Michelle (Matt) Fair of Durham, North Carolina, Jeffrey (Amy) Kuhnle of Waunakee, Wisconsin, Joel (Holly) Kuhnle of Pewaukee, Wisconsin, Jacob Kuhnle of Brooklyn, New York; ten great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. She is also survived by a special niece, Pat Samlaska of Fairmont, Minnesota.
LaVern is preceded in death by her parents, Ida Erickson and John O’Connor; her husband, Walter; and a great- grandson Brandon Leffert.
She was born January 8, 1917, in Minneapolis, Minnesota and lived in Fairmont, Minnesota with her family until she graduated from Fairmont High School in1935. Four years later she graduated from St. Luke’s Nursing School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and worked at St. Luke’s Hospital as a registered nurse until her retirement in 1979. LaVern was married for a short time to Clare Nelson in 1939. On October 14, 1945, LaVern married Walter Stephenson. They made their home in Springville, Iowa until his death in June 1972.
She was active in the Presbyterian Church and American Legion Auxiliary in Springville. “Vernie” was an accomplished seamstress and kept busy with crafts, crocheting and quilting. After her retirement she lived with her daughter, Judy, in Watertown, Wisconsin for 20 years. She was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Watertown where she used her nursing skills to help others. In 2000, she moved to Kingston Hill Retirement Home in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to be closer to her son Jerry. In 2008, she moved to Emerson Point in Iowa City, Iowa and later to Windmill Manor, Coralville, Iowa.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in LaVern’s memory, to a charity of the donor’s choice.
She is survived by a son Jerry (Cheryl) Nelson of Fort Meyers, Florida; a daughter Judith (Gerald) Kuhnle of Jefferson, Wisconsin; six grandchildren, Kristine (Bryce Ruroden) Nelson of Ely, Iowa, Roxanne Leffert of Atkins, Iowa, Michelle (Matt) Fair of Durham, North Carolina, Jeffrey (Amy) Kuhnle of Waunakee, Wisconsin, Joel (Holly) Kuhnle of Pewaukee, Wisconsin, Jacob Kuhnle of Brooklyn, New York; ten great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. She is also survived by a special niece, Pat Samlaska of Fairmont, Minnesota.
LaVern is preceded in death by her parents, Ida Erickson and John O’Connor; her husband, Walter; and a great- grandson Brandon Leffert.
She was born January 8, 1917, in Minneapolis, Minnesota and lived in Fairmont, Minnesota with her family until she graduated from Fairmont High School in1935. Four years later she graduated from St. Luke’s Nursing School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and worked at St. Luke’s Hospital as a registered nurse until her retirement in 1979. LaVern was married for a short time to Clare Nelson in 1939. On October 14, 1945, LaVern married Walter Stephenson. They made their home in Springville, Iowa until his death in June 1972.
She was active in the Presbyterian Church and American Legion Auxiliary in Springville. “Vernie” was an accomplished seamstress and kept busy with crafts, crocheting and quilting. After her retirement she lived with her daughter, Judy, in Watertown, Wisconsin for 20 years. She was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Watertown where she used her nursing skills to help others. In 2000, she moved to Kingston Hill Retirement Home in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to be closer to her son Jerry. In 2008, she moved to Emerson Point in Iowa City, Iowa and later to Windmill Manor, Coralville, Iowa.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in LaVern’s memory, to a charity of the donor’s choice.
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