LaVerne Marie O'Leary

LaVerne M. O'Leary, 89, died on December 17, 2012. She was born September 13, 1923, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, daughter of the late Leo and Agnes (Brown) Bahler. Oldest of three children, she was preceded in death by her sister Ruth, and her brother Leo, as well as her husband of 49 years, Donald O'Leary. Amy Fonk, dear friend and business partner of Don, also preceded her. She was married to Donald on September 6, 1947, and they lived in West Allis and later Muskego, Wisconsin. They moved to Manawa in 1968, and LaVerne was most recently a resident at St. Joseph Residence in New London. LaVerne was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Manawa, and active in the choir. While living in Manawa, she worked as a cook's helper in the Manawa Schools. She is survived by her children Kathleen (Bob) Mattern, Dennis (Joyce) O'Leary, Sheila Crouchley, Craig O'Leary, Kevin O'Leary and friend Rodney Dean, Brian O'Leary and fiancée Donna, and special friend Dave Rezachek. She is further survived by brother-in-law Bill (Betty) Rottman and sister-in-law Marlene Bahler. Her special granddaughter Stephanie, Stephanie's friend Erwin Graper, and her great grandgirls Madelyn and Charlotte Graper were a source of great joy for her. She is also survived by other loved grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and many friends. In addition to the love she had for her family, Laverne also enjoyed baking, and her chocolate chip cookies, chocolate pies, and fruit salads were her special trademarks. She was an excellent seamstress and enjoyed sewing clothing for grandchildren, as well as making costumes and serving as costume chair for the Center Point chapter of Sweet Adelines. LaVerne's love of singing and pride in being a Sweet Adeline was the heart of her life, and her life time membership in Sweet Adelines was a source of great pride. Funeral services for LaVerne will be held on Saturday, December 22, at St Paul Lutheran Church in Manawa at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Vilas Mazemke officiating. Burial will be in Wisconsin Veteran's Cemetery in King next to her husband Donald. A visitation for LaVerne will be held on Friday, December 21, 2012 from 4-7 p.m. at the Cline-Hanson-Dahlke Funeral Home in Manawa and on Saturday at the church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. The family would like to extend a very special thank you to all the staff at St. Joseph Residence in New London for their loving care and the smiles they shared with Mom during her time there. Your compassionate care was a special blessing for all of us. Thank you, Mom, for the gift of song, and we know you'll keep a song in your heart. We'll miss you.