LaVerne Koester

LaVerne June Koester of West Union went home to Heaven to be with God July 15, 2021 after a courageous battle with cancer. A memorial service was held July 23 at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Eldorado with Pastor Ginny Olson officiating. Burial was at the rural St. Peter Church Cemetery.

LaVerne was born July 8, 1934 in Waukon to August and Martha Snitker. She was the youngest of eight children. LaVerne lived on the farm with her parents and siblings. She graduated from high school and went to work in Cedar Rapids as a secretary for three years.

She met her husband, Donald, at Matter’s Ballroom in Decorah and they were married August 19, 1956. LaVerne dedicated her life to being on the farm with Donald and their four children: Connie, Larry, Cheryl and Brad. When the children were grown, she also worked at Gundersen Palmer Hospital in the dietary department, where she made many friends and enjoyed the people she worked with very much.

LaVerne was a wonderful cook. She liked baking sweets and trying new recipes. The holidays were always special and she baked for days to make sure there was plenty. LaVerne loved music - especially country - and attended Country on the River a couple years, concerts in the bandstand uptown and the fair, which she really enjoyed.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Donald; her parents, August and Martha; her sisters, Mildred Sohn, Norma Kruger, Inez Gerleman, Lorraine Kruger and Florence Koenig; her brother, Ralph; her brother-in-law, Harlan Koester; and her sister-in-law, Ruby Miller.

LaVerne is survived by her daughter, Connie (Jay) Haas; her son, Larry; her daughter, Cheryl (special friend Matt); and her son, Brad (special friend Cherie); her grandchildren, Jamie (Lindsey) Haas, Nicole (Karim) Bakri, and Brady and Zachary Koester; five great-granchildren, Oliver, Maxwell and Isabel Bakri, and Sienna and Sawyer Haas; her sister, Ruby Koenig; her brother-in-law, Bill; and her sister-in-law, Nadine. May her memory be blessed among us.