LaVonne “Von” Mersch Tegler

TEGLER, MERSCH, HEMPSEED, LARSON

Posted By: Tara (email)
Date: 9/7/2010 at 13:10:28

LaVonne “Von” Mersch Tegler, 82, of Iowa City died Saturday, Sept. 4, 2010 at Mercy Hospital.

Von was born on May 28, 1928 THE DAUGHTER OF Charles and Pearl Hempseed Mersch. She spent her early years in the little town of Masonville, Iowa. Music played a large part in her life, playing the organ in her Immaculate Conception Church at the age of eleven.
Von loved life and made the most of every day. No matter how sick she never lost her keen wit and sense of humor according to her doctors.
She was an avid golfer, enjoyed tennis, biking, horseback riding and skiing. For 20 years in January and March she, Wayne and two of their priest friends would head out to Vail or Aspen for ten days. How she loved the fresh air, the smell of pines and hoping to miss the trees. When Betsy turned six she also skied.
Von graduated from Manchester High School in 1945. She was involved in many extra-curricular activities. She played four different instruments. Her biggest accomplishment was the marimba, mastering it to play for many organizations.
While attending the University of Iowa, she was a member of the U of I Scottish Highlanders, an all-girl bag pipe band, marching at football games. A few of the members put on stage performances in many cities. She played bagpipes and was a dancer doing all the Scottish dances. She sang second soprano in their trio. She traveled extensively with the Highlanders throughout the U.S. and Canada.
On May 25, 1950 she married Wayne Tegler of rural Masonville. They lived in Iowa City while Wayne was training to be an X-ray Technician. At that time she was employed by the U of Iowa Business Office. They then moved to Benton Harbor, Michigan while her husband took one more year so he could obtain his registry. She was employed by the pathologist at Mercy Hospital.
In 1952, her husband was called back into the Navy during the Korean conflict and was stationed at Great Lake. She worked for the Head of the Research Department at Downey V.A. Hospital, the largest mental institution in the world at that time.
It was during this period that she read two or three books a week. There was nothing else for her to do. Her library has over 100 books. There are many of the classics, bound in leather with gold trim.
In 1954, they moved back to Iowa City while her husband was attending the University of Iowa for his pre-med and medical school studies. He graduated in 1960 receiving his M.D. degree. During that time, she worked for the Steindler Orthopedic Clinic. She was an avid reader and enjoyed playing bridge many times a month. She was president of Nu Sigma Nu Wives Club and also president of DAMES, an organization comprised of wives whose husbands were attending the University.
While a member of DAMES she taught bridge.
In 1960, they moved to Duluth, Minnesota where Dr. Tegler took his internship at St. Luke’s Hospital. In Duluth she worked for Dr. J.C. Smith, the county medical examiner.
In 1961, Dr. Tegler started his practice in Iowa City. Von worked in her husband’s office until 1964. She was president of Mercy Hospital Wives Club. Von was one of the founders of the Mercy Hospital Guild, serving as its first Vice President and then President pro-tem. She served for many years on the Guild’s advisory board. She was advisor to the Women’s Auxiliary to the Student Medical Association. Von was a member of the State Medical Society of Wives taking her to Des Moines twice monthly.
At this time she taught piano lessons and enjoyed the little ones so much. She enjoyed flying in small planes with two of her friends, one doctor and the other a priest. She decided she could do so also. Two more landings and she would have had her pilots’ license.
However, Betsy, six weeks old arrived and she decided that taking care of a baby girl was more important than flying a small aircraft.
Then her interests changed to the Roman Catholic Church. She served 2 two year terms on the Davenport Diocesan Council.
In 1977, she was selected by the Diocesan Council to represent the Davenport Diocesan in Region 9 (Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas). She was selected by that group to serve on the National Advisory Council to the NCCB. She served on the NAC from 1978 to 1982, taking her to Baltimore four times a year, many documents were sent and one had to do their homework.
In 1980, she attended the National meeting in Washington, D.C.; composed of the entire conclave. She was an observer for one full week. Dr. Tegler and daughter, Betsy accompanied her to Washington, D.C. They were sightseeing while she was listening and taking notes. She and her family attended the mass in the Cathedral. This mass was for the beautification of Kateri Tekakwitha.
While on the NAC, she made many friends. She always stood for her convictions. She opposed ordination of women, married clergy, and homosexuality. Von is still remembered by many friends throughout the U.S. The laity, priests, bishops, and cardinals were among her many friends who respected her for standing up for her convictions and always so as a lady with dignity, so she was told.
She was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers, and one sister. Survivors include her husband, Dr. Wayne Tegler of Iowa City, one daughter, Betsy and her husband, Mark Larson of Gurnee, Illinois and two grandchildren, Katie and Jake.
She will be missed by many friends from all over the world while being seen as a patient at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. She will be missed most of all by the clergy of her beloved Roman Catholic Church, her husband Wayne and her family; Wayne, Betsy, Mark, Jake, and Katie.