LaVerne A. Kleinke, nee Harter, 89, of West Bend, passed away Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at the Samaritan Health Center in West Bend.
She was born on December 4, 1920 in the town of Scott to the late Charles and Ida (nee Hintz) Harter. On June 3, 1939, LaVerne was united in marriage to Fredrick "Fritz" Kleinke at St. Lucas Lutheran Church in Kewaskum. Upon their marriage, they moved to Beechwood where they lived for 20 years. In 1959, they moved to West Bend where LaVerne began working at the West Bend Company as a Welder for 26 years until she retired in 1978. Fritz preceded her in death on March 7, 1983.
LaVerne was a member of Pilgrim Lutheran Church in West Bend and the Pilgrim Pioneers and Quilting Club.
She is survived by her four sons, Fredrick of Elysian, MN, Ival (Sharon) of West Bend, Dennis (Susan) of West Bend and Russell (Lynn) of Kewaskum, eight grandchildren, Tracy, Melissa, Lori, Christi, Michelle, Rhonda, Darryl, and Jessie; 15 great-grandchildren, Charlie, Tru, Kage, Josh, Heather, Ryan, Jordan, Abbi, Cassie, Travis, Zachary, Preslie, Sydney, Tyler, and Cayden; a brother, Reuben (Alice) Harter of Beechwood; two sisters-in-law, Gladys Vandenberg of Key Biscayne, FL and Evangeline Harter of West Bend; other relatives and friends.
She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Fritz; her son, Eugene; two brothers, Alton (Florence) Harter and Marlin Harter; and three brothers-in-law, Alphaus (Virginia) Kleinke, Marvin (Dolores) Kleinke, and Wilbur (Marie) Kleinke.
Funeral services in remembrance of LaVerne will be held on Monday, January 11th at 2:00 p.m. at Pilgrim Lutheran Church, 462 Meadowbrook Dr. West Bend. Rev. Joseph Fisher will officiate and burial will follow in Washington County Memorial Park, West Bend. Visitation will be at the church on Monday from 12:00 p.m until the time of the services.