LaVonne M. Darling, age 80, of Decorah, Iowa, died Tuesday, February 21, 2017 at Wellington Place.
LaVonne was born April 30, 1936 near Burr Oak, Iowa, to Elmer and Gladys (Peterson) McCauley. She graduated in 1955 from the Decorah High School. On April 3, 1956 she married Alvin Darling at St. Bridget Catholic Church in Bluffton. They lived in Beloit, Wis., for a short time before moving back to the Burr Oak area in 1958. She was a wife and mother most of her life, then in the later years worked at Northern Engraving, Green Lea Manor, and Wellington Place. They lived in Burr Oak until January, when they became residents at Wellington Place in Decorah.
LaVonne was a former member of St. Agnes Catholic Church and a member of St. Olaf Catholic Church in Mabel. She enjoyed going shopping, baking, playing cards, Facebooking, attending family events, but most of all, she enjoyed her children and grandchildren.
LaVonne is survived by her husband Alvin of Decorah, two sons, Randy (Paulette) of Decorah and Rick (Vicki) of Lanesboro, Minn.; four daughters: Gail (Jim) Masters of New Hampton, Iowa; Terri (Larry) Schneberger of Decorah, Shannon (Jeff) Downing of Muscatine, Iowa; and Stacey Darling of Decorah; daughter-in-law Cindy (Jim) Bappe of Decorah, 20 grandchildren: Renee (Rodney) Hill, Brad (Trisha) Darling, Kristy (Lee) Huinker, Adam Darling, Jamie (Zach) Darling, Jordan (Jason) Darling, Brady Darling, Andrew Darling, Megan (Gabe) Marsh, Ethan Hall, Lexi (Jared) Hall, Jason (Ann) Masters, Kiley Masters, Ryan (Steff) Masters, Kindra (Steve) Fritz, Bailey, Raegan, and Dawson Downing; and Abby and Kelly Ahrens; 12 great-grandchildren: Hunter, Cayden, Bradan, Tylar, Brody, Hayden, Jackson, Mason, Nolan, Liliana, Beckett, and Henry; a brother-in-law, Dean and Ginger Darling; and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Elmer and Gladys McCauley; father and mother in-law Kenneth and Pearl Darling; a son, Danny Darling; daughter-in-law Shirley Darling; two grandsons, Troy Kruse and Dustin Downing; and brother and sister-in-law Lester and Jean McCauley.
Funeral mass will be 11:30 a.m. Saturday, February 25 at St. Olaf Catholic Church in Mabel, with Father Edward McGrath officiating. Visitation will be 9–11:30 a.m. on Saturday prior to services at the church. The Mengis Funeral home in Mabel, Minn., is assisting the family.