LAVERN B. DUEHR

OBERFOELL, DUEHR, LIVENS, GRANT, KLINKHAMMER, KUTSCH, KOSTER

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 3/11/2003 at 11:31:43

Lavern B. Duehr

Telegraph Herald - Saturday, March 1, 2003

BALLTOWN, Iowa - Lavern B. Duehr, 63, of 23070 Horseshoe Road, Balltown, died at 7 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2003, at home surrounded by his family.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Francis Church, Balltown, with burial in the church cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main St., Dubuque, where there will be a parish wake service at 2 p.m.

Mr. Duehr farmed the family farm where he was born and raised. He also was employed at Barnstead-Thermolyne for 33½ years until his retirement in April 2001.

He was born on May 29, 1939, in Dubuque, son of Henry and Myrtle (Oberfoell) Duehr. He attended school in Balltown.

He married Mary K. Livens on Oct. 30, 1965, at St. Thomas Church, Potosi, Wis. Lavern and Mary owned and operated the Deerland Ballroom for 18½ years.

He was a member of St. Francis Church, Balltown, the Balltown Lions Club and Pheasants Forever.

He enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, farming, woodworking and cracking nuts (butternuts, hickory nuts and walnuts).

He had a great love for his family and his work. His free time was spent with family and grandchildren playing cards, liars dice with his friends, and the slot machines.

Surviving are his wife, Mary K. Duehr; seven daughters, Annette M. (David) Grant, Marsha J. Duehr (friend, Rob Newburn), Amy B. Duehr (fiance, Tony Schmelzer), Lori E. Duehr and Stacy K. Duehr, all of Cedar Rapids, Michelle K. (friend, Dave Koch) Duehr, of Dubuque, and Lisa S. (Rick) Klinkhammer, of Balltown; two sons, Tony S. (Amy) Duehr, of Durango, and Henry B. Duehr, of Balltown; 15 grandchildren, Matthew, Krystal, Ryan, Tiffany, Jessica, Brooke, Dallas, Nathan, Miles, Nicholas, Teron, Alexis, Logan, Olivia and Vada; two sisters, Delila Kutsch, of Sherrill, and Mary Koster, of Dubuque; and a sister-in-law, Betty Duehr, of Dubuque.

He was preceded in death by two sons, Raymond and Nicholas Duehr.

A Lavern B. Duehr Memorial Fund has been established.

A very special thank-you to Hospice of Dubuque, especially Amy; Mike and Cindy Breitbach of Breitbach's Country Dining; and Dr. Schreiber, Dr. Kukla, Dr. Lally and staff at the Wendt Regional Cancer Center for their care and concern. A special thank-you to family, friends and neighbors for their thoughts and prayers.