LaVonne M. Kelley

LaVonne Marie Kelley, 88, of Eau Claire, WI, passed away on Sunday, November 8, 2015, at home. She was born on May 25, 1927, in Chippewa Falls, WI, to Eugene and Hildegarde (Etten) Lahr. She was raised in the Stanley-Boyd area where she pitched softball in high school and graduated with the Class of 1946. LaVonne married James “Jim” Kelley on May 8, 1954, in St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Stanley, WI. Together, they raised four children, spending summers and vacations in Northern Wisconsin. LaVonne and her family traveled with the Eau Claire Boys Drum and Bugle Corp and the Sundowners where she was uniform chairperson. For many years, LaVonne and Jim continued to follow the Drum Corp International throughout her life. LaVonne was a member of St. James the Greater Catholic Church, participating in numerous church activities. She was a member of the St. James Lay Association and the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart. She appreciated gardening, craft shows, bowling, playing cards (especially 500), spending time up North, and being with family. She loved being a grandma and her Yorkie, Lena, named after her favorite aunt. After Jim’s retirement, LaVonne and Jim enjoyed traveling to southern Texas during the winters to visit Tim, and visiting Sharon, in Idaho, to ride jet-boats up and down the Snake River. LaVonne was very independent and adventurous, living life to its fullest. LaVonne is survived by her four children, William (Marjorie) Kelley of De Pere, WI, Patricia (Dean) Kolander of Strum, WI, Timothy (Lisa Mitchell) Kelley of Caddo Mills, TX, and Sharon (Kirk) Bachman of Boise/Stanley, ID; seven grandchildren, James (Alicia) Kelley of De Pere, WI, Rachel (Brad) Dohr of Manitowoc, WI, Sara Kelley of Astoria, NY, Holly Kolander of Strum, WI, Nicholas (Liz) Kolander of Grand Junction, CO, Keon Kelley of LaVon, TX, and Jasmine Kelley of Caddo Mills, TX; seven great-grandchildren, Joshua Kelley, Trent Kelley, Sophia Kelley, Aiden Dohr, Avayah Dohr, Emma Dohr and Cashtion Kolander; and brother, Gene (Tena) Lahr. She was preceded in death by her parents, and her beloved husband, Jim Kelley. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 12p.m. on Friday, November 13, 2015, at St. James the Greater Catholic Church, 2502 11th St. in Eau Claire, with Father Tom Krieg officiating. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, November 12, 2015, with a Prayer Vigil at 7:30 p.m. at the WEST CHAPEL of Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral Home, 1405 N. Clairemont Ave. in Eau Claire. Visitation will also be one hour prior to the Mass Friday at the church. Entombment will be in Resurrection Mausoleum in Calvary Cemetery in Eau Claire.

Service Information

Cemetery

Calvary Cemetery
4100 S Hastings Way
Eau Claire WI 54701

Visitation

Thursday, November 12 2015
4:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Lenmark Gomsrud Linn Funeral & Cremation Services West Chapel
1405 North Clairemont Avenue
Eau Claire WI 54703

Mass of Christian Burial

Friday, November 13 2015
12:00 PM

St. James the Greater Catholic Church
2502 11th Street
Eau Claire WI 54703