Lavonne Ewing

LaVonne A. Ewing, 93, of Waukon, IA, died on Monday, June 19, 2023, at Good Samaritan Society in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Thursday, June 22nd, at 11:00 AM at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon with Rev. Cathy Jurgens officiating. Burial will follow at Oakland Cemetery in Waukon. Friends may greet the family from 9:30 AM until the time of services on Thursday at church. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.

LaVonne Ann Ewing was born April 16, 1930, in Waukon, IA, the daughter of Carl and Esther (Hermeier) Kugel. LaVonne was baptized at Zalmona Presbyterian Church in rural Waukon and confirmed at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon. She attended Ludlow #1 country school, graduated from Waukon High School, then completed normal training and was a country school teacher; later, LaVonne attended Luther College in Decorah. On August 23, 1953, LaVonne married Egbert J. Ewing at Zion UCC. She provided cleaning services for the elementary school, businesses, and Waukon locals. Starting in 1985, LaVonne also did childcare for about 20 years or so for family and friends.

A lifelong member of Zion UCC, she was a Sunday school teacher for many decades. LaVonne was a very creative and artistic person. She made jewelry when she was younger, was an amazing seamstress, making all of her kids' clothes and creating her own patterns, and did a lot of crocheting including doilies, afghans, dolls, Christmas decorations, Easter baskets, and animals. After taking a cake decoration class, she was able to make beautiful cakes too. Gardening and growing all types of flowers were one of her most favorite pastimes and she was always on the lookout for a new kind of flower that wasn't presently occupying her garden. LaVonne enjoyed watching all sports and the Olympics on TV because she liked the competition. She liked playing cards, crosswords, word searches, reading, and jigsaw puzzles as well.

LaVonne is survived by her three children: Peggy Ewing of Guttenberg, IA, Esther Scheckel of Luana, IA, and Ann (Pat) Burckart of Waukon; grandchildren: Daniel Van Wey of Luana, Kimberlee (Rob Stockman) Burckart of LeRoy, MN, Jennifer (Eric Johnson) Burckart of La Crosse, WI, and Michael Burckart of Fort Dodge, IA; two great-grandchildren: Charlotte and Natalie Stockman; her sister Ileta Oakland of Waukon; sister-in-law Barb Kugel of Lansing, MI; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Egbert in 1982; siblings: Donald, Eldo (Marjorie), and Roger (Mary Ann) Kugel, Ruth (Hubert) Cooper, and Marjorie (Calvin) Winter; and brother-in-law Herman Oakland.

Honorary casketbearers are Kimberlee and Jennifer Burckart and Charlotte and Natalie Stockman. Casketbearers are Pat and Michael Burckart, Daniel Van Wey, Rob Stockman, and Eric Johnson.