Lavern was born on August 26, 1933, to Robert Fred Wiederhold Sr. and Alma Marie (Klagmann) Wiederhold in Deanville, Texas. She was baptized on December 16, 1934, by Pastor Hugo T. Flachmeier at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Deanville, and confirmed on April 10, 1949, by Pastor S.T. Schroeder at Martin Luther Church in Giddings. On March 2, 1952, she married Leroy Quintus Zwerneman at Martin Luther Church in Giddings. After short stays in Giddings, Houston, and Austin, they built their home and raised their family in Pflugerville for 46 years before retiring to Georgetown.
Lavern enjoyed raising her family, which meant sharing lots of love, baking and sewing. From scratch, she baked the best coffee cakes, donuts, donut holes, chocolate chip cookies, pies, and cinnamon rolls. She made noodles from scratch, pigs in a blanket for every Christmas gathering, experimented with tamales, and cooked a hot breakfast and supper almost every day of the week for her large family. On Sundays, she often put a roast in the oven before church or fried chicken for lunch for all of us to gather for a family meal. All about family togetherness! Lavern had a talent for sewing, and made school clothes, prom dresses, wedding dresses, and bridesmaid dresses, and could always be called upon for repairs like fittings, hems, buttonholes, and zippers. She kept a basket of used fabric to cut quilt patterns and did quilting with family catching up around the quilt frame, then later with church friends.
Lavern and Leroy supported a large garden and fruit trees, which meant shucking corn, canning vegetables and fruits, snapping black-eyed peas, green beans, and the tastiest tomatoes. They raised chickens which meant fresh eggs and sometimes plucking feathers, and pigs for sausage, bacon, and ham. The pecan trees meant shelling for pies and Texas Trash. The children and grandchildren enjoyed open land for horseback riding, go cart rides, and crawfishing when the tank held water.
Lavern connected with her faith through small group bible studies (“circle meetings”), taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, and made sure we had a strong Christian foundation with attending church and Sunday school every Sunday. She took food for the sick and homebound, and shared her desserts with friends, family, and neighbors. She led a family devotional every single morning as we sat at the breakfast table. She was a member of Christ Lutheran Church in Georgetown, Texas; and before retirement, a long-time member of Immanual Lutheran Church in Pflugerville.
Lavern loved children. She helped raise too many kids to count! “Aunt Vern” was the caregiver to neighbors, nieces & nephews, great nieces & nephews, and children all over Pflugerville for many years. Upon “retiring” from full-time childcare, she worked a few hours a week at the Lutheran church daycare down the street. She’s always loved babies, and up until a few weeks ago was still holding great grandchildren and making them jump and smile.
She enjoyed a competitive domino game, playing uno and most recently bingo with family and friends.
Lavern is survived by her five children; son Farrel & Margie Zwerneman of Katy; son Glenn & Judy Zwerneman of Belton; son Mark & Annette Zwerneman of Belton; daughter Rhonda & Jack Lancaster of Georgetown; daughter Karen & Dan Sorg of Frisco; 14 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; brother J.C. & Dorothy Wiederhold of Dime Box; brother-in-law Fred Zwerneman of Dime Box; sisters-in-law Alice Wiederhold of Caldwell, Ruth Wiederhold of Caldwell, Patsy Zwerneman of Spring, and Jean Zwerneman of Cypress, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Lavern is preceded in death by her husband Leroy of 62 years; her infant son Darrell Leroy Zwerneman; her parents, Robert & Alma (Klagmann) Wiederhold; in laws, Fritz and Louise (Gloyna) Zwerneman; seven brothers, Albert & Milady Wiederhold, Lee Roy & Evelyn Wiederhold, Edgar & Ruby Wiederhold, Marlin Wiederhold, Ervin & Mildred Wiederhold, Wilburn Wiederhold, and Robert Wiederhold; three sisters, Viola & Gerhard Kissman, Alene & James Cottrell, and Joyce Zwerneman; two sisters-in-law, Lois & Herbert Kasper, and Alice & Curt Bridges; and two brothers-in-law, James Zwerneman and Willard Zwerneman. Lavern was the youngest of 12 children.
Lavern loved her family and kept them close to her heart. She continued to write first and middle names with birthdates in her journal to make sure she had it right for all the individual family birthday cards. In order by Lavern & Leroy’s children: Farrel & Margie’s kids - Ryan & Kelly Zwerneman of Littleton, CO (Natalie & Henry); Craig & Stacy Zwerneman of Sugar Land, TX (Lela, Heather, Josephine); John & Carrie Zwerneman of Meridian, ID (Zoe, Mia, Camden); Glenn & Judy’s kids - Casey Zwerneman of Austin, TX; Tara & David Emmel of Austin, TX (Dylan, Jackson); Troy & Loren Zwerneman of Belton, TX (Royce, Emmit); Mark & Annette’s kids - Lindsey & Tony Giusti of Lorena, TX (David); Kristin Zwerneman of Woodway, TX; Logan & Alyssa Zwerneman of Durham, NC; Rhonda & Jack’s kids - Nathan Lancaster of Hutto, TX; Jansen & Anna Brown (Amelia) of Burnet, TX; Connor & Reilly Lancaster of Bryan, TX; Karen & Dan’s kids - Andrew & Zachary Sorg of Frisco, TX.
Serving as pallbearers are Lavern’s grandsons: Ryan, Craig, John, Troy, & Logan Zwerneman, Nathan & Connor Lancaster, Jansen Brown, and Andrew & Zachary Sorg. Serving as honorary pallbearers are Lavern’s granddaughters: Casey & Kristin Zwerneman, Tara Emmel, and Lindsey Giusti.
A visitation for Lavern will be held Thursday, September 7, 2023 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Cook-Walden Davis Funeral Home, 2900 Williams Drive, Georgetown, Texas 78628. A funeral service will occur Friday, September 8, 2023 at 10:00 AM at Christ Lutheran Church, 510 Luther Drive, Georgetown, Texas 78628, with burial to follow at 2:00 PM at St. John Lutheran Cemetery, 8235 FM 141, Dime Box, Texas 77853.
The family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to all of Lavern’s caregivers at The Delaney Assisted Living and Suncrest Hospice for making our last days together a time that will always be treasured.
Lavern’s request was that memorials be directed to Christ Lutheran Church, Georgetown, or a charity of your choice.
Exodus 15:2
The LORD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation;
this is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cookwaldendavisfuneralhome.com for the Zwerneman family.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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