LaVonne Bearbower

LAVONNE BEARBOWER

Brandon

LaVonne J. Bearbower, 86, died Tuesday, March 25, 2014, at Windsor Manor in Vinton following a brief illness. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Monday, March 31, at Brandon United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Lexie Kirkpatrick officiating. Visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 30, at Van Steen-huyse-Russell Funeral Home in Vinton and also one hour before services at the church on Monday. Interment will be in Brandon Cemetery at 1:30 p.m. Monday, March 31.

LaVonne was born Sept. 15, 1927, in Waterloo, Iowa, the daughter of Clarence and Delores Jackson Hartung. During high school, LaVonne worked at a laundry service in Waterloo. She graduated from East High School in Waterloo in 1945.

On July 15, 1945, LaVonne was united in marriage with Leo G. "Dutch" Bearbower at the Brandon United Methodist Church parsonage. The couple farmed together near Brandon and LaVonne also worked at the Brandon grocery store and Fuller Brush.

The couple had been married for 65 years when Dutch preceded her in death on Sept. 17, 2010.

LaVonne was a member of the Brandon United Methodist Church and participated in Women's Circle. She also was a board mem-ber of the Brandon Cemetery.

LaVonne enjoyed playing cards and the quilting club at the Brandon Cafe. She loved crafting and sewed clothes for Barbie, Cabbage Patch and American Girl dolls. She also liked going to bazaars – both to sell her doll clothes and to admire the work of others.

LaVonne is survived by two sons, Larry (Elaine) Bearbower of Vinton and Les (Jeannine Peyton) of Brandon; daughter-in-law, Peg Bearbower of Vinton; seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; one son, Linn Bearbower; and one brother, Buster Spars.

A memorial fund has been established.

Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home of Vinton is caring for LaVonne and her family.

Condolences may be left at www.vsrfh.com.