LaVera Jeanette Claeys

LaVera Jeanette Claeys, 89 from Winnebago, MN passed away on Sunday, November 17, 2019 at St. Luke’s Lutheran Care Center in Blue Earth, Minnesota.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday, November 21, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at Lutheran Church of Our Savior in Winnebago, Minnesota with visitation one hour prior to the service. Burial will take place at Hillside Cemetery.

LaVera was born on January 16, 1930 to Rosa (Behrens) and Gustav Kutnink in rural Fraser Township, Minnesota. She graduated from Fairmont High School in 1948. After graduation she was employed as a clerk in a bank.  LaVera was united in marriage to Donald Claeys on February 25, 1951.  They resided on a farm in rural Winnebago, Minnesota.

LaVera was employed in many jobs off the farm –  line worker at Stokely Van Kamp, clerk at the local grocery store, bookkeeper at the local grain elevator, line worker for several manufacturing firms, cook for the Legion Clubs in Winnebago, Easton and Amboy, clerk for several gas stations as well as a small upholstering business from her home.

Her hobbies included gardening, quilting, reading and doing puzzles.  LaVera attended our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Winnebago, Minnesota and enjoyed making baby quilts for new babies in the church. In 1995 LaVera was also certified as an EMT and served on the Winnebago ambulance crew.

LaVera is survived by daughter Donna (Oliver) Luhring of Hutchinson, Minnesota, son Robert (Faye) Claeys of Seffner, Florida, and son Roger (Deb) Claeys of Winnebago, Minnesota, grandchildren Nathan Luhring, Matthew Luhring, Heather Claeys, Chris Claeys, Theresa Claeys, Greg Claeys, and Thomas Claeys, and sister Violet Leuth.

LaVera was preceded in death by her parents, husband Donald, brothers Victor Westendorf, Arlo Kutnink, Elmer Kutnink, sisters Irene Erickson, and Mildred Werling.