LaVon Mae Roepke Obituary (1924 - 2012)

LaVon Mae Watson Roepke was born on April 23, 1924 to Clark and Mary Seedorf Watson and lived on a farm 1 mile north of Aurora. She had two older brothers, LeRoy and Clark Watson. LaVon attended all 12 years at Aurora Public School and graduated in 1941. She was a member of the Aurora Baptist Church and was baptized on June 28, 1936. She attended Wartburg College and received a teaching certification in 1942. LaVon and Albert Roepke were married on December 31, 1942 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Aurora. To this union, six children were born. Michael (Leanna) Roepke from Lamont, Richard (Barbara) Roepke from Aurora, Kathy (Jim) Keasler from Iowa City, Marilyn (Allan) Braaten from Thermopolis, WY, Ruth (Jim) Nelson from Clinton and Betty (Bruce) Landis from Elkader. The grandchildren are as follows: Michael's - Joe (Amy) Roepke and Sarah (Beth) Roepke; Richard's - Gretchen (Mike) Mosher, Joanne (Beany) Bode, David (Heidi) Roepke and Stephanie (Eric) Schares; Kathy's - Naomi (Andy) Werner, Sam (Morgan) Keasler and Matt Keasler; Marilyn's - Chuck (Teri) Braaten, Rachel (Ryan) Cowger, Jacob Braaten and Kyle Braaten; Ruth's - Andrew Nelson, Peter Nelson and Tom Nelson; Betty's - Adam Landis, Bridget Willfong, Elaine (Jeremy) Bossard, Claire Landis, Sophia Landis and Evan Landis. The great grandchildren are as follows: Jesse, Brandon and Tyler Braaten; Avery Mosher; Hollis, Violet and Henry Bode; Gabrielle, Michael, Nicholas and Olivia Willfong; Wyatt Roepke and Rose Schares. Those things most important to her was her family, church, Bible studies, traveling, baking bread and berry pie, gardening, music, and working together with her husband, Albert, on the farm. She will always be remembered with love and appreciated for the many ways she gave to her family, friends and her community. LaVon entered into her eternal rest on Thursday, September 13, 2012 at University Hospitals in Iowa City at the age of 88. She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers: LeRoy and Cleo Watson. Funeral services will be at 10:30 A.M. Monday, September 17, 2012 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Aurora with Pastor Ron Spears officiating. Music will be provided by Rosalind Young. Casketbearers will be: Chuck Braaten, Joe Roepke, Adam Landis, David Roepke, Sam Keasler, Matthew Keasler, Kyle Braaten, and Evan Landis. Interment will be in Union Cemetery north of Aurora. Memorials will be directed to EWALU camp retreat center and St. Paul's Lutheran Church. Friends may call from 1 PM until 5 PM Sunday, Sept. 16 at the Fawcett Funeral Home in Winthrop and after 9:30 A.M. Monday at the Church. To send a condolence online go to www.fawcettsfuneralhome.com under obituaries.