Klein, Lavonne Mae (Worple) 1934 - 2024

KLEIN, WORPLE, DEVRIES, PEARSON, SCHROETTER

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 4/13/2024 at 12:59:17

Lavonne Klein, age 89, of Riceville, Iowa, passed away on April 8, 2024 at Manly Specialty Care in Manly, Iowa.

Lavonne Mae was born on July 17, 1934 at her parents’ farm home near Elma, Iowa. She was the first of six children born to Edward and Frieda (DeVries) Worple. She attended a one room country school until eighth grade. She graduated valedictorian from Riceville High School with the Class of 1953. She was very proud of this accomplishment.

Her working career began at the office of Dr. Eiel and Hughet (now Mitchell County Regional Health) in Osage, Iowa until her marriage to Donald Roethler on February 12, 1955. They lived in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri where Don was stationed in the US Army, and Lavone worked at the Trochoma Hospital. Following discharge from the service, they moved to Waterloo where Lavonne worked for two years as a secretary/ receptionist at a private psychiatric clinic.

They moved to Howard County and farmed in the area between Riceville and Elma for 32 years. Those were happy days; working the land close to family, and raising their two children: Bruce and Brenda. She was able to be an at home mother for most of those years. As the kids got older, she returned to work, working as a homemaker health aide. She also spent six years working at LPC in Leroy, and another six years at Sara Lee in New Hampton. The couple moved to the town of Elma in 1991. Don died of cancer in 2000.

In 2002, Lavonne moved to Riceville. She married Wayne Klein on March 1, 2003. Together the couple enjoyed 21 years of retirement life. They displayed a loving Christian life that many people admired.

Lavonne was baptized, confirmed and married in the St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Riceville where she continued to be involved in the activities of the church. She also enjoyed reading, sewing, fancy work, knitting and gardening.

Lavonne endured struggles and tragedy, but she never wavered from her faith in the one true triune, God.

Lavonne was preceded in death by her parents, husband Don Roethler, son Bruce Roethler, two grandsons Brandon Pearson and Daniel Schroetter and a sister in-law Marilyn Worple.

Survivors include her husband Wayne Klein, daughter Brenda Roethler, grandchildren: Mark (Erica) Roethler, Paul (Christina) Roethler, James (Marvea) Roethler, Joshua (Rachel) Schroetter and Jacob (Leah) Schroetter; great-grandchildren: Dillon (Alex) Roethler, Sophia and Catherine Weaver, Isabella and Lydia Roethler, Olivia and Cooper Schroetter; a great-great-granddaughter Amber Lavonne Mai; siblings: Fred (Patricia) Worple, John (Mary) Worple, Merle Worple, James (Patt) Worple and Dianne (Bob) Joens; numerous stepchildren and step grandchildren, along with several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00am on Friday, April 12, 2024 at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Riceville. Visitation will be held from 4:00 - 6:00pm on Thursday, April 11, 2024 at the Lindstrom Funeral Home in Riceville and again one hour prior to services on Friday morning at the church.

Source: Lindstrom Funeral Home database