Laverne Mensen

Laverne F. Mensen, 87, of Petersburg passed away Tuesday, October 2, 2018, at the Good Neighbor Home in Manchester. Visitation will be held 2 – 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 5, 2018, at Kramer Funeral Home, 750 12th Ave SW in Dyersville. Visitation will continue from 9 – 10 am Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018, at Kramer Funeral Home prior to funeral services. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018, SS. Peter Paul Catholic Church, Petersburg with burial in the church cemetery. Military Honors will be accorded by American Legion Post 137. Laverne was born March 1, 1931, in Petersburg, the son of Frank and Henrietta (Kramer) Mensen. He married Janice Funke on Oct. 8, 1953, in Dyersville. Together they farmed on the Mensen family farm north of Petersburg. On April of 1989, they retired and moved into Petersburg, and finally moved to the Ellen Kennedy Living Center in January of 2015. He was a faith-driven man who enjoyed attending Mass. He was also a soft-spoken farmer and a proud veteran, serving in Germany during the Korean War. He was also proud of all of his grandchildren and enjoyed a good Coke High. He is survived by his 6 children: Karen (Ron) Hillers of Guttenberg, Kenny (Kathy) Mensen of Cedar Rapids, Ronnie (Deb) Mensen of Earlville, Duane (Celeste Nunemaker) Mensen of Solon, Carla (Dan) Lechtenberg of Manchester and Pat (Kay Blair) Mensen of Petersburg; 18 grandchildren: Jeremy (Kristina) Hillers, Jason (Jamie) Hillers, Laurie (John) Donovan, Becky (Scott) Siegel, Jenny (Brad) McIntire, Eric (Tasha) Mensen, Tim Mensen, Kristie (Justin) Penner, Ashley (Tanner) Warrington, Kelli (Travis) Schaunaman, Kerri (Jon) Anton, Chris (Nichol) Mensen, Angie (John) Dolan, Ben (Madie) Lechtenberg, Greg Mensen, LCP Austin Mensen, Morgan Mensen and Kyle (Emily) Mensen; 23 great-grandchildren with another due in October; in-laws: Verna Lee Digman, Lois (Art) Kern, Theresa (Charlie) Schindler and Darlene (Wayne) Wegmann, Karen Funke and Floyd (Janet) Funke, all of Dyersville, Rita (Lawrence) Lansing of New Vienna, IA. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, siblings: Edmund (Irene) Mensen, Ambrose (Mary Ann) Mensen, Arnold (Charlotte) Mensen, Leo (Dorothy) Mensen; in-laws: Mary Lou Funke, Edward Digman, Leon Funke, and a great-grandson, James Anton. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.kramerfuneral.com