Lavonne Lupkes

Rock Rapids, Iowa LaVonne Lupkes, age 75 of Rock Rapids, IA died Saturday, November 17, 2012 at Sanford Hospital Rock Rapids. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM, Wednesday, November 21, 2012 at Holy Name Catholic Church in Rock Rapids, IA, with Father Jeff Schleisman as celebrant. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery in Rock Rapids. Visitation will be Tuesday, November 20, 2012 from 2:00 to 8:00 PM, with the family present from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Jurrens Funeral Home of Rock Rapids. There will be a Vigil service at 7:00 PM at the funeral home. LaVonne Mary Lupkes was born March 8, 1937 in Larchwood, IA to Charles and Agatha (Underberg) Lens. She was raised in Larchwood and received her education at St. Marys Catholic School before moving to Rock Rapids as a freshman and graduated from Rock Rapids High School. She worked for Bell Telephone after graduation until her marriage to William Lupkes on April 24, 1959. After their marriage they moved to the family farm near Rock Rapids where they were blessed with 4 children. LaVonne was actively involved with the farming as she and Bill raised their family. In 1988 she began a job at Sanford Hospital Rock Rapids where she worked her way up to Dietary Manager and remained there for 21 years. Also, she worked at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Luverne. The couple was married for 51 years before separated by Bills death in 2010. She was president of St. Catherines Society and longtime kitchen Chair for the soup supper. She was also involved with judging 4-H fair food entries for years in both Rock Rapids and Sibley. She was an officer for the Iowa State Dietary Manager Association, involved with Hospital Auxiliary, Red Hat Society and Rock Rapids Business Women. Her passion though was cooking. She loved to bake and cook and was known as a wonderful cook. She baked cakes for over 20 years for weddings and other occasions. Also she enjoyed canning the produce from her large garden. LaVonne was also a quilter and her grandchildren will all have a quilt they will cherish and remember her by. Left to cherish her memory are her children, son, Jim (wife, Sandi) Lupkes of Rock Rapids, IA, their four children, Brad (wife, Shawna) Lupkes and their children, William and Clara of Rock Rapids, IA, Nick (wife, Monique) Lupkes and their children, Beau and Maxx of Sioux Falls, SD, Kyra (husband, Luke) Slade and their children, Lily and Jack of Rock Rapids, IA and Mitch Lupkes of Arnolds Park, IA; son, Stan (wife, Lisa) Lupkes and their three children, Matt, Jason, and Kayla Lupkes, all of Dakota Dunes, SD; son, Tom (wife, Denise) Lupkes of Rock Rapids, IA; Daughter, Tracy Dirks and her special friend, Chad Schultz and her two children, Ashley and Austin all of Ellsworth, MN; siblings, Edward (Pat) Lens of Beaver Creek, MN, James (Colleen) Lens of Burlington, IA, John Lens of Seaside, CA, Wayne Lens of Creston, IA, David Lens of Grand Junction, CO, Alice (Gerry) Moeller of Rock Rapids; in-laws, Janie Albers of Rock Rapids, IA; Hans (Lucia) Lupkes of Deer Park, TX, Ruth Lupkes of Rock Rapids, IA, and Eleanor Bouwman of Akron, IA; and other extended family members and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Bill Lupkes; brothers, Raymond, Leonard, Charles and Robert; and sister, Margaret.