Obituary

LaVonne C. Westra 1931—2017
On the afternoon of September 21st, a quiet angel began her rest in eternity with her Lord and Savior. LaVonne C. (Kroon) Westra was born on a farm in eastern South Dakota on December 5, 1931. She attended Flandreau High School and graduated from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. From there she began teaching in northwest Iowa and eastern South Dakota before moving with her husband to Detroit, Michigan. They lived in Detroit, Milwaukee, and Minneapolis before moving to Rockford, Illinois in 1972. Then, for a number of years, LaVonne worked as a teacher's aide in the Rockford school district. LaVonne loved to paint and sew. Her sewing led to creating crafts which she sold at craft shows for many years. She was a dedicated steward of those in need. LaVonne volunteered for many years at the Children's Clothes Closet, Carpenters Place, and the Children's Home and Aid Society Holiday House. In later years she volunteered at Our Saviors Lutheran Church with the DoDay Ladies quilting group and the Senior Luncheon. LaVonne loved to travel and visited Europe, Norway, Hawaii, the Holy Land and the Greek Isles. LaVonne's deep faith in God, her gentle spirit and loving nature has been handed down to succeeding generations. She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Rolland O. Westra; three children, Jay (Mari) Westra, Corey (Barbara) Westra, and Kim (Steve) Donovan. She dearly loved her four adoring grandchildren; Natalie Donovan, Betsy Donovan, Nicole Westra, and Mitchell Westra. She will be dearly missed by all.
Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 27, 2017; at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, 3300 Rural St., Rockford, IL, 61107; with visitation at Church from 9:30 a.m. until time of service. Burial will follow to Scandinavian Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in LaVonne's honor to: Our Savior's Lutheran Church. Funeral arrangements cared for by Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Mulford Chapel. Share condolences onlin