Lavina Blum
August 25, 1917 — May 11, 2019
Lavina Ann Schwarte Blum, daughter of Nick and Agnes (Kenkel) Leinen was born in Portsmouth, Iowa on August 25, 1917. She was baptized in Portsmouth and confirmed in Earling, Iowa. She moved with her parents to Earling when she was a little girl. She attended country school for several years then went to St. Joseph’s Catholic School in Earling.
On March 17, 1937, Lavina was united in marriage to Wilfred Schwarte in St. Joseph’s Church. Seven children were born to this union. They farmed near Earling until they retired in 1967. Wilfred passed away on August 11, 1977 at the age of 68.
Lavina married again to Ivo Blum on November 14, 1981. They lived in Earling for seventeen and a half years. Ivo passed away on May 19, 1998 at Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Lavina was a loving and caring mother and grandmother and really enjoyed having everyone visit. She worked hard as a farmer’s wife, gardening, canning, feeding all the cattle, hogs, chickens, milking cows, and all the other tasks a farmer does.
She was an active member of St. Joseph’s Altar Society for many years. She enjoyed planting a big garden with lots and lots of flowers. She loved to go bowling and had a team called Hen and Chicks, which included her and her three daughters Alice, Sally, and Connie. They even took 1st place . She loved playing cards, especially euchre and 31.
She is survived by her children Alice (Ron) Reiser of Carrol, Iowa; Jerry (Starr) Schwarte of Denison, Iowa; Ken (Rose) Schwarte of Branson West, Missouri; Sally (Jeff) Lass of Pilot Mound, Iowa; Connie (Rodney) Summerfield of Dunlap, Iowa; daughters-in-law Becky Schwarte of Denison, Iowa; Carol Schwarte of Littleton, Colorado; and so many grandchildren, great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, and great-great-great grandchildren; sisters-in-law Estelle Leinen of Dow City, Iowa; Joan Leinen of Earling, Iowa; and Carol Leinen of Harlan, Iowa; many nieces and nephews, other family members and friends.
Lavina died on Saturday, May 11, 2019 at the Dunlap Specialty Care in Dunlap, Iowa, attaining the age of one hundred and one years, eight months and sixteen days. She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands Swede and Ivo, her sons Glenn and Larry, sisters Cecelia Buckley, Sally Dullemuth, Irene Mahlberg, and Rose Mary Renberg, brothers Lavern Leinen, Leo Leinen, Nick Leinen, Jr., Alfred Leinen, and Ed Leinen, grandchildren Amy Summerfield and Jon Kasey Chase.
On March 17, 1937, Lavina was united in marriage to Wilfred Schwarte in St. Joseph’s Church. Seven children were born to this union. They farmed near Earling until they retired in 1967. Wilfred passed away on August 11, 1977 at the age of 68.
Lavina married again to Ivo Blum on November 14, 1981. They lived in Earling for seventeen and a half years. Ivo passed away on May 19, 1998 at Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Lavina was a loving and caring mother and grandmother and really enjoyed having everyone visit. She worked hard as a farmer’s wife, gardening, canning, feeding all the cattle, hogs, chickens, milking cows, and all the other tasks a farmer does.
She was an active member of St. Joseph’s Altar Society for many years. She enjoyed planting a big garden with lots and lots of flowers. She loved to go bowling and had a team called Hen and Chicks, which included her and her three daughters Alice, Sally, and Connie. They even took 1st place . She loved playing cards, especially euchre and 31.
She is survived by her children Alice (Ron) Reiser of Carrol, Iowa; Jerry (Starr) Schwarte of Denison, Iowa; Ken (Rose) Schwarte of Branson West, Missouri; Sally (Jeff) Lass of Pilot Mound, Iowa; Connie (Rodney) Summerfield of Dunlap, Iowa; daughters-in-law Becky Schwarte of Denison, Iowa; Carol Schwarte of Littleton, Colorado; and so many grandchildren, great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, and great-great-great grandchildren; sisters-in-law Estelle Leinen of Dow City, Iowa; Joan Leinen of Earling, Iowa; and Carol Leinen of Harlan, Iowa; many nieces and nephews, other family members and friends.
Lavina died on Saturday, May 11, 2019 at the Dunlap Specialty Care in Dunlap, Iowa, attaining the age of one hundred and one years, eight months and sixteen days. She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands Swede and Ivo, her sons Glenn and Larry, sisters Cecelia Buckley, Sally Dullemuth, Irene Mahlberg, and Rose Mary Renberg, brothers Lavern Leinen, Leo Leinen, Nick Leinen, Jr., Alfred Leinen, and Ed Leinen, grandchildren Amy Summerfield and Jon Kasey Chase.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Lavina Blum, please visit our flower store.