Laverne Spehn

LaVerne G. "Vern" Spehn, age 81 of Sauk Centre, died Tuesday, May 5, 2009 at the St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, May 11 at Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church in Sauk Centre with Rev. James Statz officiating. Military honors will be provided by the Sauk Centre United Veterans Honor Guard with interment following in Calvary Cemetery.

Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre and from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday at the church. Parish prayers will be held at 5 p.m. followed by the United Veterans Prayer Service at 6 p.m. Sunday evening at the funeral home.

LaVerne George Spehn was born September 15, 1927 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to George Heiserich and Hedwig Spehn. He was a graduate of St. Andrews/St. John's School in Greenwald. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was honorably discharged from active service in 1959. On January 7, 1956 he was united in marriage to Erna Langwasser in Kaiserslawtern, Germany. LaVerne was a mechanic for many years for Tri-City Paving in Little Falls.LaVerne was a member of Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church, Paul F. Donart VFW Post 2853, American Legion Post 417 of Little Sauk, and the Big Sauk Lake Association. He enjoyed visiting with family and friends, being outside, and spending time with his grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife, Erna Spehn of Sauk Centre; children, Evelyn (Steve) Ladd of Palisade, Rosemary (Raymond) Primus of Melrose, and Thomas (Renae) Spehn of New Brighton; nine grandchildren, Steven, Kevin, Megan, Amanda, Andrew, Patrick, Evan, Mackenzie, and Kaitlyn; three sisters, Darlene (Art) Daniels of Sauk Rapids, Arlene (Laurel) Linder of Alexandria, and Marian (Gerald) Kriese of Rice.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and daughter, Tina on January 18, 2007.

Serving as casket bearers will be Steven Ladd, Kevin Ladd, Megan Ladd, Amanda Primus, Andrew Primus, and Patrick Spehn. Cross bearer will be Evan Spehn and scripture bearers will be Mackenzie and Kaitlyn Spehn.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.