LaVerne E. Crass, nee Degnitz, of West Bend, passed away Tuesday, March 22, 2005 at the Cedar Lake Health Care Center at the age of 86 years.
She was born on July 20, 1918 in the town of Fredonia to the late Robert and Edna (nee Geidel). On September 24, 1938 she married Earl M. Crass in Port Washington. They resided in the townships of Farmington and Fredonia, as well as in the West Bend area until moving to the Cedar Community on March 23, 1993. Her husband preceded her in death on Feb. 13, 2002.
She and her husband enjoyed traveling until they couldn't due to health. She took great pride in her husband and family. She enjoyed cooking, cleaning, needlepoint, counted cross-stitch, quilting and sewing. She made a quilt for each of her children. She made many baby bibs and children's aprons and other clothing items for her family as well as many others.
She enjoyed refinishing furniture with her husband. They loved dancing and you could be sure that you would see them out on the floor at weddings, anniversaries and at the Fillmore Turner Hall. They enjoyed playing cards and were part of several card clubs. She was life long member of St. Martin's United Church of Christ in Fillmore and taught Sunday School there for over 20 years.
LaVerne is survived by four children, Dennis (Pat) Crass of Lomira, Gerald (Patti) Crass of West Bend, Charlene (Guy) Brown of Land O' Lakes, FL, and Kenneth (Jean) Crass of West Bend; 12 grandchildren, Steve Crass, Matt (Diane) Crass, Connie (John) Lacey, Brian Crass, Vicki (Mark) Umhoefer, Christopher (Jill) Luy, Christine Crass, Andy (fiancAC.e Cherie) Crass, Adam Luy, Sara Crass, Kelly Crass and Pam (Bill) Borquez; 14 great-grandchildren, Jaci, Joshua, Amanda, Kaylee, Nicholas and Suzanne Crass, Patrick, Matthew and Daniel Lacey, Erik and Jessica Umhoefer, Hayden Luy, Eva and Gabriel Borquez; one great-great grandson, Skyler Stein; a sister, Doreen Wolf; three sisters-in-law, Florence Degnitz, Carol (Paul) Schultz and Joyce Crass; a brother-in-law, Clyde (Lucille) Crass; other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by a son-in-law, James Luy, a brother, Willard Degnitz, and two brothers-in-law, Norman Wolf and Lee Crass.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, March 25 at 7:00 p.m. at the Myrhum - Patten Funeral Home, West Bend. Rev. Mary Ehrgoop will officiate and burial will be in Fillmore Union Cemetery on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Friday from 4:00 p.m. until the time of services.
In lieu flowers, memorials would be appreciated to the Alzheimer's Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601.