Laverne A. Clark
August 16, 1926 — August 13, 2016
Laverne Anna Reuwsaat was born August 16, 1926 to Ahrend and Anna (Janssen) Reuwsaat at their farm in rural Crawford County, Iowa. She was baptized at the First Baptist Church in Denison and graduated from Denison Community High School on May 24, 1945. During high school Laverne worked as a theatre attendant at what is now the Donna Reed Theatre in Denison. After graduation, Laverne moved to Cedar Rapids to work as a telephone operator for the telephone company there. After relocating back to Denison, she spent many evenings at the Denison Roller Skating Rink with a group that would become lifelong friends and some family members. She also met her future husband at the skating rink.
August 29, 1948, Laverne was united in marriage to Joseph Lorren Clark. Into this marriage three children were born: Vicki, Joleen, and Larry. Laverne worked alongside Lorren in the farming operation, raising hogs, cattle, grain, and poultry. Laverne always raised a large garden that would help feed the family throughout the year. They enjoyed square dancing. Laverne was an excellent seamstress and made many of their beautiful square dancing costumes. In 1966, they purchased the blacksmith shop in Irwin and relocated to a home next door to the repair shop. Over the years, Laverne worked as a cook for the Irwin-Kirkman Schools, a meat cutter at the Irwin Locker Plant, and waitressed at Mickel’s Restaurant. Laverne and Lorren later divorced but remained good friends and enjoyed many holiday and family gatherings through the years.
In the early eighties, Laverne relocated to Denison to work at Cronks Restaurant until retirement. Living in Denison, she was able to spend a great deal of time with Vicki who also lived in Denison. Laverne loved music, solitaire, word find puzzles, and bingo. She and her friends spent many evenings playing bingo around the community and went on trips to the casino in Sloan. Laverne enjoyed crafts, especially bead work and made beaded angels for all of her family members. Her favorite holiday was Halloween and she always found a costume to wear while she gave out candy. In August of 2013, Laverne became a resident at Elm Crest Retirement Community until her death.
Laverne’s greatest pride and joy were her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She loved to attend their school events, dance recitals, concerts, and Sunday school programs. Her children remember family trips and time spent at the community swimming pool. Laverne was a lifelong swimmer so all of her family learned to swim. The older grandchildren have fond memories of spending time with Grandma Lavern in Denison, having malts at Cronk’s, staying up all night watching TV, playing bingo at Wesco with Grandma and Aunt Vicki, and eating DQ Dilly Bars. Grandma Laverne was the daycare person for the younger children after relocating to Irwin after retirement. They remember she always made them popcorn, went for walks, and to the park. When they needed discipline Grandma never raised her voice, she would tap her hand on the table and look at them and they knew they needed to listen.
Laverne was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Lorren Clark; infant brother Alfred; sister and brother-in-law Lavone and Glen Kauffman; sister and brother-in-law Delores and Clifford Kauffman; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Howard and Marianne Clark; brother-in-law Gerald Landsman; and great-grandson Christian Pickett. She is survived by daughters Vicki Clark and Joleen Fiscus both of Harlan; son Larry Clark and his wife Shalkye of Kimballton; sister-in-law Jean Lansman of Harlan; grandchildren: Shilo Bladt and her husband Jeff, Seth Fiscus, Ashley Schmidt and her husband Roger, Cody Clark and his wife Brooke, Cory Clark and his wife Sage, Shauna Williams and her husband Keith, and Donnie Pickett; great-grandchildren: Hannah and Samuel Bladt; MaKayla, Logan, Zackary, and Eythan Schmidt; Corbin and Blair Clark; Nicholas and Ashtyn Clark; Michael Johnson; Devyn, Landon, Tyler, Benjamin, and Abigal Pickett; other family members and friends.
August 29, 1948, Laverne was united in marriage to Joseph Lorren Clark. Into this marriage three children were born: Vicki, Joleen, and Larry. Laverne worked alongside Lorren in the farming operation, raising hogs, cattle, grain, and poultry. Laverne always raised a large garden that would help feed the family throughout the year. They enjoyed square dancing. Laverne was an excellent seamstress and made many of their beautiful square dancing costumes. In 1966, they purchased the blacksmith shop in Irwin and relocated to a home next door to the repair shop. Over the years, Laverne worked as a cook for the Irwin-Kirkman Schools, a meat cutter at the Irwin Locker Plant, and waitressed at Mickel’s Restaurant. Laverne and Lorren later divorced but remained good friends and enjoyed many holiday and family gatherings through the years.
In the early eighties, Laverne relocated to Denison to work at Cronks Restaurant until retirement. Living in Denison, she was able to spend a great deal of time with Vicki who also lived in Denison. Laverne loved music, solitaire, word find puzzles, and bingo. She and her friends spent many evenings playing bingo around the community and went on trips to the casino in Sloan. Laverne enjoyed crafts, especially bead work and made beaded angels for all of her family members. Her favorite holiday was Halloween and she always found a costume to wear while she gave out candy. In August of 2013, Laverne became a resident at Elm Crest Retirement Community until her death.
Laverne’s greatest pride and joy were her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She loved to attend their school events, dance recitals, concerts, and Sunday school programs. Her children remember family trips and time spent at the community swimming pool. Laverne was a lifelong swimmer so all of her family learned to swim. The older grandchildren have fond memories of spending time with Grandma Lavern in Denison, having malts at Cronk’s, staying up all night watching TV, playing bingo at Wesco with Grandma and Aunt Vicki, and eating DQ Dilly Bars. Grandma Laverne was the daycare person for the younger children after relocating to Irwin after retirement. They remember she always made them popcorn, went for walks, and to the park. When they needed discipline Grandma never raised her voice, she would tap her hand on the table and look at them and they knew they needed to listen.
Laverne was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Lorren Clark; infant brother Alfred; sister and brother-in-law Lavone and Glen Kauffman; sister and brother-in-law Delores and Clifford Kauffman; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Howard and Marianne Clark; brother-in-law Gerald Landsman; and great-grandson Christian Pickett. She is survived by daughters Vicki Clark and Joleen Fiscus both of Harlan; son Larry Clark and his wife Shalkye of Kimballton; sister-in-law Jean Lansman of Harlan; grandchildren: Shilo Bladt and her husband Jeff, Seth Fiscus, Ashley Schmidt and her husband Roger, Cody Clark and his wife Brooke, Cory Clark and his wife Sage, Shauna Williams and her husband Keith, and Donnie Pickett; great-grandchildren: Hannah and Samuel Bladt; MaKayla, Logan, Zackary, and Eythan Schmidt; Corbin and Blair Clark; Nicholas and Ashtyn Clark; Michael Johnson; Devyn, Landon, Tyler, Benjamin, and Abigal Pickett; other family members and friends.
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