LaVonne Louise Hamler

June 14, 1924 - February 15, 2017

LaVonne Louise Hamler was born June 14, 1924 in Hubbard, Iowa to John & Laura (Ziebell) Ziemke. She attended country school through 8th grade and graduated from Hubbard High School in 1942. She attended AIB in Des Moines, then worked in Des Moines for one year, and at Lennox Industries in Marshalltown for 5 years. On May 29, 1949 LaVonne married Howard Hamler at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Marshalltown. They lived in Conrad, Iowa for 5 years before moving to Knoxville in 1956 to open a heating & air conditioning business. They were parents of 5 children: Stephen Howard, Larry Eugene, Cynthia Sue, Debra Kay and Douglas Jon. In December 1957, they moved to 914 W. Robinson Street, where Howard & LaVonne lived the remainder of their lives. LaVonne enjoyed watching the world go by on her busy street and wouldn’t even consider moving to a smaller home. LaVonne worked as bookkeeper for Hamler Heating & A/C for several years, but her main occupation was that of homemaker. She was a good cook and excelled in her baking skills. She was always on the lookout for a new recipe to add to her extensive collection. She made beautiful pies (always homemade crusts!) and delicious cookies. LaVonne was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Knoxville for over 60 years. One of her favorite things to do was go out to eat with family & friends. She was a 25-year breast cancer survivor, and she loved cardinals, watching ISU men’s basketball, family reunions, and collecting refrigerator magnets that family & friends brought to her from all over the world. A real people-person, she learned about the lives of people she came in contact with – and remembered it the next time she saw them. LaVonne treasured her family and did whatever she could to help them in any way possible. LaVonne passed away Wednesday afternoon, February 15, 2017 at the Knoxville Hospital and Clinics in Knoxville, Iowa. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Howard; sons Stephen, Larry and Douglas; twin great-grandchildren Luke & Lydia Hamler; brother Claire Ziemke; and sister-in-law Veryl Hamler. She is survived by her daughters Cynthia (Roger) Todd and Debra (Chet) Rankin; eight grandchildren – Valerie Graves, Eric Hamler, Jamie Hamler, Michele Brodie, Joe Nichols, Nathan Todd, C.J. Bandfield and Jennifer Bandfield; 15 great-grandchildren - Haley Hamler, Carlee & Kyle Graves, Elayna Hamler, Jayde & Jude Kreimeyer, Alyson, Ashlee, Abigail, Amber & Amie Roberts, Emma & Elyse Nichols, and Owyn & Thessaly Todd; and 7 great-great-grandchildren – Liam, Noah & Olivia Mack, Levi Rivers, and Carson, Drayton & Easton VanDalen. LaVonne is also survived by her sisters-in-law Shirley Ziemke, Maurine Ridout, Marilyn Feldschneider, Joyce Bollhoefer, and Janie (Ivan) Pfantz; and many other relatives & friends.