LaVonne Ruth McWilliams (1937 - 2002)

MCWILLIAMS, TESKE, ROSBURG, DYKSTRA, EDWARDSON, HEINTZ, KISTLER, KLINKER, WEST, SILKEBAKKEN, OLSON, WOODS, SHARON

Posted By: Karen Brewer (email)
Date: 9/17/2011 at 00:18:33

Unknown Newspaper

La Vonne Ruth McWilliams
LaVonne Ruth McWilliams, daughter of William and Lois Teske Rosburg, was born Aug. 18, 1937, in McCallsburg and died of cancer March 30, 2002, at the Clarke County Hospital in Osceola. She was 64.

She graduated from Osceola High School in 1955. She married Donald Eugene McWilliams on June 5, 1955. They spent two years in Germany when Mr. McWilliams was stationed there with the U.S. Army. After they returned to the states they became the parents of a daughter, Pamela Jean.

Mr. and Mrs. McWilliams farmed side by side throughout their lives together. She continued farming after he died in 1997.

She was an active member of Immanuel Lutheran Church. She was director of the church's Vacation Bible School and children's Christmas programs for many years. She also served in numerous roles of the Women's Guild and local Leslie Auxiliary.

An active high school basketball player, she maintained her love of the game as a spectator.

In addition to her husband she was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Pat Dykstra; a brother, Don Rosburg; three brothers-in-law, Bill Edwardson, Wayne Heintz and John Kistler and a sister-in-law, Nona Kistler.

She is survived by her daughter, Pam Klinker and her husband, Dennis Klinker and two grandchildren, Dennis and Jessica Klinker, all of Osceola; five sisters, Marie West of Monument, Colo., Mildred Silkebakken and her husband Silky Silkebakken, of DeLeon, Texas, Juanita Olson and her husband, Max Olson, of Cambridge, Dorothy Edwardson of Ponca City, Okla. and Peggy Woods of Osceola; a sister-in-law, Marlys Sharon of Carlisle and a brother-in-law, Bill Dykstra of Leon; as well as a host of family and friends.

Funeral services for Mrs. McWilliams were April 2 at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Osceola, Pastor J.R. Wheeler officiating. Organist Carol Wheeler accompanied soloist Ruth Ellis as she sang Precious Lord Take My Hand and The Lord's Prayer and the congregation as they sang Jesus Lives, the Victory's Won.

Casket bearers were Tim Kluender, Ron Kluender, Marvin Ellis, Chuck Woods, Richard Courtney and Gary Eckels. Honorary casket bearers were Max Olson, Bill Dykstra, Richard Zopff, Silky Silkebakken, Olin Eddy and Elmer VanBuren.

Interment was in Maple Hill Cemetery at Osceola.

Memorial contributions may be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church in Osceola or the American Cancer Society.

Kale Funeral Home in Osceola was in charge of arrangements.