Lavonne Klinkefus

Lavonne Klinkefus, the daughter of Herbert and Mabel (Miller) Bylund, was born December 12, 1919, at her parents’ home near Viola Township, Audubon County, Iowa. At the time of her birth there was a raging blizzard and Herbert had to meet the Doctor on a sled. She died December 31, 2012 at the Exira Care Center in Exira, Iowa at the age of 93 years and 19 days. Lavonne was baptized and confirmed at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon, Iowa. She attended Viola School then worked as a nanny and housekeeper for various families to help support her parents and siblings. On June 5, 1941, she was united in marriage to Arthur Petersen in Maryville, Missouri. Two daughters Marilyn Kay and Judy Ann were born to this union. Lavonne and Arthur farmed east of Exira and later west of Audubon for many years until Arthur’s health forced him to retire from farming and they moved to Audubon where they owned and operated the Bel Aire Motel. During this time Lavonne also worked at the Friendship Home in Audubon for many years alongside her sister-in-law Elvina Kraft. Arthur died in 1972. Following Arthur’s death, Lavonne married John Klinkefus on December 18, 1974. They had a wonderful ten years of travel and dancing. John died February 27, 1985, while they were vacationing in Scottsdale, Arizona. Lavonne was a member of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon, Iowa. Anyone who knew Lavonne knew of her love for dancing. She found a great friend and dance partner, Emmert Paulsen, who remained a loyal friend until her passing. Lavonne was preceded in death by her husbands Arthur Petersen and John Klinkefus; her step-son Tom Klinkefus; her step son-in-law Charles Manatt; her parents; her brothers and sisters: an infant brother Robert Bylund, Leola and Harold Olsen, Wilbert (Bub) and Helen Bylund, Edith and Harold Gardner, Betty and Dallas Lauridsen, Carl Bylund, Milo Bylund, Norma Bylund, and JoAnn and Leonard Schreiber. Survivors include her daughters: Marilyn and husband George Reinemund of Bastrop, Texas and Judy and husband Lee Nelson of Harlan, Iowa; her grandchildren: Angela and husband Jeff Kana of Bastrop, Texas; Paula and husband David Duke of Austin, Texas; Jeff and wife Kristin Pierce of Atlanta, Georgia; Gina and husband Michael Kervan of Cranbury, New Jersey; 8 great grandchildren; her sisters-in-law: Donna Bylund of Avoca, Iowa; Shirley Bylund of Audubon, Iowa; her step-daughter Kathleen Manatt of Washington D.C.; her step-daughter-in-law Mary Klinkefus of Columbus, Ohio; her step-grandchildren: Michele Manatt and husband Wolfram Anders of McLean, Virginia; Father Timothy Manatt of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Daniel and wife Nikole Manatt of Bethesda, Maryland; William Klinkefus and Steve Klinkefus both of Columbus, Ohio; several step great grandchildren; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Cemetery:
Interment will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon, Iowa.

Visitation:
The family will meet with friends Friday morning from 10:00 A.M. until the time of the service at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon, Iowa.

Service:
Funeral service will be conducted by Barb Christensen on Friday, January 4, 2013, at 11:00 A. M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon, Iowa.