LaVonne Mae Schafer, 92, died Wednesday, December 6, 2023 at Mayo Clinic Health Systems, Red Wing. She was born April 16, 1931 to Oscar and Myrtle (Nord) Flom of Wanamingo. She was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Wanamingo and in 1949, she graduated from Wanamingo High School. After high school she attended Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN, graduating in 1953 with a Bachelor of Science Degree. She was a Registered Medical Technologist working at Gunderson Lutheran Hospital in La Crosse, WI. She also worked for Dr. Davis, Hanson and Weber in Minneapolis. On September 29, 1956, she married John Schafer at Trinity Lutheran Church in Wanamingo. They lived on a dairy farm in rural Lake City. In 1990 their son took over the dairy farm and they moved to rural Goodhue. John died on February 12, 2015 and for the past five years LaVonne has resided at the Downtown Plaza.
LaVonne was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Hay Creek. She was involved in Ladies Aid, Fellowship Club and choir. She was a member of the Belva-Dears Extension Home Study Group and a past 4-H leader. She enjoyed cooking, knitting and crafts—particularly making jewelry. She always enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.
She is survived by two daughters, Peri Anne (Ray) Williams of Goodhue and Kimberly (Kyle) Gibbens of Tomah, WI; two sons, Todd (Tammy) Schafer of Berlin, WI and Kevin (Carol) Schafer of Lake City; eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren and baby Schafer on the way and two sisters-in-law, Margaret and Ruth Schafer of Rochester. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and an infant son.
Funeral service was at 11 a.m. Monday, December 11, 2023 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hay Creek. Reverend Lowell Sorenson officiated. Visitation was from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, December 10, 2023, and one hour prior to the service, all at the church. Burial took place at St. Peter’s Lutheran Cemetery, Belvidere. Arrangements handled by Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.mahnfamilyfuneralhome.com
