BAKEMAN, LaVerne Gerald 1905-2000

BAKEMAN, NIGG, GIFFORD

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 5/11/2010 at 11:25:21

#1:

ROCKFORD, IOWA - LaVerne Gerald Bakeman, 95, of Rockford, died Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2000, at Nora Springs Care Center of natural causes.

Survivors include numerous nieces and nephews; and his caregivers, the Rev. and Mrs. Richard Sutton.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Delbert; three sisters, Geraldine Gardner, Gladys Fox and Hazel Bakeman; seven stepbrothers, Will, George, Jesse, Bert and Clarence Bakeman and Jay and Ray Gifford; and two stepsisters, Lila Gifford and Agnes Peet.

Services will be 1 p.m. Monday at Fullerton-Schumburg Funeral Home, with burial in Riverside Cemetery, both in Rockford. Military rites will be conducted by Walker Graper American Legion Post 338 of Rockford; friends may call from 10 a.m. until service time Monday at the funeral home.

Memorials may be directed to Remnant Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Mr. Bakeman served in the U.S. Navy during World War II as a chaplain's assistant and then worked as a rural letter carrier in Rockford for the U.S. Postal Service for more than 30 years, retiring in the late 1970's.

SOURCE: http://www.genealogybuff.com/ia/statewide/webbbs_config.pl/noframes/read/65

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

#2:

LAVERNE GERALD BAKEMAN

ROCKFORD - LaVerne Gerald Bakeman, 95, of 109 Seventh St. N.W., died Wednesday (Nov. 29, 2000) at the Nora Springs Care Center.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday at Fullerton-Schumburg Funeral Home, 302 W. Main Ave., Rockford, with the Rev. Richard Sutton, retired pastor of Remnant Seventh-Day Adventist Church of Nora Springs, officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, Rockford, with graveside military honors conducted by Walker Graper American Legion Post No. 338 of Rockford.

Friends may call from 10 a.m. until service time at the funeral home Monday.

LaVerne Gerald Bakeman was born July 15, 1905, in Rockford, the son of Charles F. and Mary Catherine Nigg Gifford Bakeman. He graduated as the salutatorian of Rockford High School in 1924. He was first employed at the former Oliver Tractor Factory in Charles City, rising to the position of the bookkeeper of the division in which he worked.

After the start of World War II, LaVerne enlisted in the United States Army. He became a chaplain's assistant for Chaplain Major General William Miley. LaVerne received numerous commendations for his assistance in the transportation of the wounded from the Battle of the Bulge.

Following his honorable discharge, LaVerne returned to Rockford and became a rural letter carrier for the U. S. Postal Service. It was a position LaVerne would hold for over 30 years, retiring in the late 1970s.

LaVerne was a member of Remnant Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Nora Springs, where he was the church's pianist for many years. LaVerne was a gifted and talented pianist and formerly shared his talents as the pianist at the Holy Name Catholic Church of Rockford. LaVerne also traveled around to numerous care centers and senior citizen centers where he provided entertainment and assisted in worship services.

Those thankful for sharing LaVerne's life include numerous nieces, nephews and friends and his care givers, the Rev. and Mrs Richard Sutton.

LaVerne was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Delbert Bakeman; three sisters, Geraldine Garner, Gladys Fox and Hazel Bakeman; seven stepbrothers, Will, George, Jesse, Bert and Clarence Bakeman and Jay and Ray Gifford; and two stepsisters, Lila Gifford and Agnes Peet.

Those considering an expression of sympathy may direct memorials to the Remnant Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

Fullerton-Schumburg Funeral Home (641) 756-3311.

[Globe Gazette obituary, Dec. 3, 1000]