LaVern Johnson

LaVern Russell Johnson, 81, of Postville died suddenly at his home Thursday morning, January 22, 2015. Funeral Services were held Monday, January 26 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Postville, with Rev. Steve Brackett as the Officiant. Burial followed in the Postville Cemetery, Postville with Military Rites.
Lavern was born September 20, 1933 to Oscar and Selma (Wilke) Johnson in rural Allamakee County. He was baptized at St. John Lutheran Church in Waukon.
LaVern attended country school in Allamakee County and finished his education through grade twelve, upon joining the Air Force in October of 1952. During his four years of service, he was stationed overseas for much of the time as an airplane mechanic. He was honorably discharged in September of 1956 with the rank of Staff Sergeant.
After his discharge from the Air Force, he worked at Murphy Diesel and Allis Chalmers in West Allis, WI. On one of his visits back to Waukon, he met Jeanette Rose, who became his wife August 16, 1958 at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. To this union, two daughters were born. He was a cattle buyer from 1958 until his retirement in 2008. Two of his greatest joys were sitting in the sale barns bidding and visiting and being on his John Deere mower in the summers.
His favorite pastimes after retirement were playing cards at “Club 51” with the guys and reading. He loved to see the little ones, with all their energy, come to visit, but was ready for a nap after they left, as he said he got tired just watching them play. He will be greatly missed by his family.
LaVern is survived by his wife of 56 years, Jeanette; his daughter, JoDee (Bruce) Anderson; his sisters, Norma Ruth Bloxham and Dorothy (Gary) Gress; his brother, Keith (Darlene) Johnson; his sisters-in-law, Delores and Bev Johnson and Kathleen Rose; five grandchildren; two step-grandsons; three great-grandchildren; two step-great-grandsons and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his daughter and son-in-law, Lynette and Myron Schultz; his brothers, Roger, Marland, Dean, Dale and Dwayne Johnson; his sisters, Marnetta, Delores and, in infancy, Helen Jean; a great-grandson, Mateo Mayorga; his parents, Oscar and Selma Johnson; his step-father, Lester Nevermann; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Arbie and Hattie Rose; his brother-in-law, Don Rose; and his sister-in-law, Iva Nell Carr.
Schutte-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Postville assisted the family with arrangements.