Obituary of Lavern Henke

Lavern Lyle Henke, 89, of Wisconsin Rapids, died Friday evening, December 21, 2012, at Wisconsin Rapids Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Funeral services will be at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, December 26th at Immanuel Lutheran Church. Rev. John Grohs will officiate. Burial will be in Restlawn Memorial Park Cemetery. Military rites will be provided by American Legion Post 9. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until the time of services on Wednesday at the church. Lavern was born September 23, 1923 in Wisconsin Rapids to August and Rosetta (Witt) Henke. He served his country in the United States Army stateside during World War II from 1943-1946. On September 17, 1949 he was united in marriage to Violet Lutz in Wisconsin Rapids. The couple was blessed with four children and fifty-five years of marriage. Violet died on December 27, 2004. Lavern was employed by Preway Inc. in Wisconsin Rapids until his retirement in 1986. After retirement, he drove funeral coach for Kersten Funeral Coach Service in Wisconsin Rapids for 17 years, from 1986 until 2003. Lavern was a faithful member of Immanuel Lutheran Church and served as an usher. He worked extra hard to ensure that his children received a Christian education from Immanuel Lutheran School. Lavern had a love of the outdoors and enjoyed hunting and fishing. He and Violet loved to travel and they traveled anywhere the car could take them, visiting all of the states except Hawaii. Lavern also had a love for country music, and followed a local band Country Stars. Lavern is survived by his children: Joan (Jere) Miller, Randy (Debbie) Henke, Doug Henke, and Laura (Terry) Jackan all of Wisconsin Rapids; eight grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren; and his siblings: Arlene (Len) Tuttle of Nekoosa, Harlan (Bea) Henke, and Everett (Janet) Henke, both of Wisconsin Rapids, Dave Henke of Sayner, August Jr. (Emily) Henke, and Betty (Emil) Ehlert, both of Wisconsin Rapids, and Jean (George) Maxwell of Baraboo. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Violet, sister and brother-in-law Evelyn (Herb) Neitzel, and sister-in-law, Dorla Henke. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be designated to the Immanuel Lutheran School Bud Kersten Memorial Scholarship Fund. Herman-Taylor Funeral Home is assisting the family. Lavern?s family would like to thank the staff of Wisconsin Rapids Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for the excellent care he received.