Lavina Weiss

Lavina M. Weiss, 90, of Atlantic, Iowa, passed away Tuesday, June 19, 2007 at the Methodist Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska.

Lavina Margaret was born October 22, 1916, in Walnut, Iowa, the daughter of Henry and Emma (Scheef) Hansen.

She attended country schools and was a graduate of the Walnut High School. Lavina taught school at Monroe District # 1, rural Walnut for five years.

On August 28, 1940, Lavina married Andrew O. "Sunny" Weiss. Sunny died June 13, 2007.

She had worked at the Avoca Sale Barn and Rays Shoe Store.

Lavina was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Atlantic; where she was an usher.

Besides her church activities, she was a 4-H Leader and a member of the Does, Drove No. 23 in Atlantic. Lavina had 600 volunteer hours for the CCMH Auxiliary. Her fellow auxiliary members said she was a willing and cheerful volunteer.

She loved to sew and made many of her daughter's clothing. Lavina also enjoyed crocheting afghans.

Lavina is survived by her two daughters, Janet Lee Smyser and her husband, Jack of Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Shari Lynn Andersen and her husband, Rich of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; three brothers, Harold Hansen and his wife, Mary of Walnut, Iowa, Merle Hansen and his wife, Ardelle of Brayton, Iowa, Donald Hansen and his wife, Louella of Walnut, Iowa; two step-sisters, Kay Elmquist of Mapleton, Iowa and Marilyn Bennett of Atlantic, Iowa; step sister-in-law, Mary Lou Andersen of Harlan, Iowa. Also surviving are 11 grandchildren, Jeff Smyser and his wife, Leigh Ann of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Scott Andersen and his wife, Rebel of Skiatook, Oklahoma, Shelly McCord and her husband, Tony of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Jamey Smyser and his wife, Becky of Fort Collins, Colorado and Jason Smyser of Council Bluffs, Iowa; great-grandchildren, Jaclynn, Brooklynn, Tayler, and Cougar Andersen; Zach, Jessica, Megan and Alex Smyser, and Nathan, Josh and Taylor Smyser; and great great-grandson, Jordan Mort.

Lavina was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Emma Hansen; her husband, Sunny Weiss; a brother, Norman Hansen; two sisters, Henrietta Henningsen and Ardelle Andersen; a step-sister, Verlee Andersen; a step-brother, Lynn Andersen; step brother-in-law, Gene Elmquist and her grandson, Joel Smyser.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, June 23, 2007, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Atlantic.
Committal services and burial will be in the Shelby Cemetery in Shelby, IA, at 12:30 p.m., Saturday afternoon, prior to the memorial service.

Visitation will start at 1:00 p.m. Friday, with the family present to greet friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m., at Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic.

The family is requesting memorials to St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Lavina's memory.

Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic is in charge of the arrangements.