Lavon DeJoode was born June 30, 1914, in rural Lucas County, Iowa, the fourth child of six to Charles and Cynthia Abrahamson. Lavon learned to read as a very young child and always loved school. She was a country school teacher for a time prior to marrying John DeJoode on September 5, 1935. She and John lived and farmed in rural Knoxville and had seven children: John Edward, Carl Eugene, Carol Josephine, Robert Dennis, Jerry Lee, Paul Henry, and Bonnie Eileen who blessed her with 25 grandchildren, 50 great-grandchildren, and 15 great-great grandchildren. When John retired from farming in 1972, he and Lavon moved into town.
Lavon never lost her desire to learn and to read. She once explained to her husband, John, early in their marriage, that books were as important to her as food was to him. She said that after she put it to him in those terms, he did not complain about her need to read and her desire to own the books she read. She wanted to own her favorites because she wanted to be able to read them again and again. Over the years she sold or gave away many of her books, but in her last small apartment, she still had shelves and shelves of books tucked away and a stack always within reach by her recliner.
Lavon had many talents and pursued many interests in her long life. She enjoyed plants and flowers, learning about history, playing cards, doing word puzzles, sewing, knitting, crocheting, embroidering, painting pictures, working at the Knoxville Reminder, and going to garage sales. With her large family, she, of course, did a lot of cooking and baking and that paid off for her when she entered a pie contest and won a motorcycle for her apple pie—a favorite memory of the grandchildren. Her grandchildren also have fond memories of her playing games with them when they were small and watching Wheel of Fortune and The Price is Right. In fact, many believe that her avid reading and playing of word puzzles is what helped keep her mind so sharp, even until the end.
Lavon was a woman of deep faith in God and trusted the Lord for guidance during the difficult times in her life and encouraged her family to do the same. She was a member of the First Reformed Church in Knoxville for over 40 years where she served as superintendent and Sunday school teacher. When the First Reformed Church closed, Lavon became a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Knoxville.
Lavon died on December 31, 2011, at the age of 97. She was preceded in death by her parents; four siblings; her husband, John, in 1987; and four grandchildren. Lavon is survived by one brother, Glen Abrahamson of Corydon; and her children: Ed DeJoode and his wife, Eunice, of Pella; Carl DeJoode and his wife, Linda, of Pleasantville; Carol Borchert and her husband, Ancil, of Knoxville; Bob DeJoode and his wife, Nancy, of Knoxville; Jerry DeJoode of Belle Plaine; Paul DeJoode and his wife, Dorothy, of Topeka, Kansas; and Bonnie Mosher and her husband, Larry, of Pleasantville; as well as many other relatives and friends. She will be greatly missed.
A visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 3 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Williams Funeral Home in Knoxville.
A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, January 4 at 10:30 a.m. at the Presbyterian Church in Knoxville. Burial will follow in Graceland Cemetery in Knoxville.
Lavon never lost her desire to learn and to read. She once explained to her husband, John, early in their marriage, that books were as important to her as food was to him. She said that after she put it to him in those terms, he did not complain about her need to read and her desire to own the books she read. She wanted to own her favorites because she wanted to be able to read them again and again. Over the years she sold or gave away many of her books, but in her last small apartment, she still had shelves and shelves of books tucked away and a stack always within reach by her recliner.
Lavon had many talents and pursued many interests in her long life. She enjoyed plants and flowers, learning about history, playing cards, doing word puzzles, sewing, knitting, crocheting, embroidering, painting pictures, working at the Knoxville Reminder, and going to garage sales. With her large family, she, of course, did a lot of cooking and baking and that paid off for her when she entered a pie contest and won a motorcycle for her apple pie—a favorite memory of the grandchildren. Her grandchildren also have fond memories of her playing games with them when they were small and watching Wheel of Fortune and The Price is Right. In fact, many believe that her avid reading and playing of word puzzles is what helped keep her mind so sharp, even until the end.
Lavon was a woman of deep faith in God and trusted the Lord for guidance during the difficult times in her life and encouraged her family to do the same. She was a member of the First Reformed Church in Knoxville for over 40 years where she served as superintendent and Sunday school teacher. When the First Reformed Church closed, Lavon became a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Knoxville.
Lavon died on December 31, 2011, at the age of 97. She was preceded in death by her parents; four siblings; her husband, John, in 1987; and four grandchildren. Lavon is survived by one brother, Glen Abrahamson of Corydon; and her children: Ed DeJoode and his wife, Eunice, of Pella; Carl DeJoode and his wife, Linda, of Pleasantville; Carol Borchert and her husband, Ancil, of Knoxville; Bob DeJoode and his wife, Nancy, of Knoxville; Jerry DeJoode of Belle Plaine; Paul DeJoode and his wife, Dorothy, of Topeka, Kansas; and Bonnie Mosher and her husband, Larry, of Pleasantville; as well as many other relatives and friends. She will be greatly missed.
A visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 3 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Williams Funeral Home in Knoxville.
A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, January 4 at 10:30 a.m. at the Presbyterian Church in Knoxville. Burial will follow in Graceland Cemetery in Knoxville.
Lavon DeJoode was born June 30, 1914, in rural Lucas County, Iowa, the fourth child of six to Charles and Cynthia Abrahamson. Lavon learned to read as a very young child and always loved school. She was a country school teacher for a time prior to marrying John DeJoode on September 5, 1935. She and John lived and farmed in rural Knoxville and had seven children: John Edward, Carl Eugene, Carol Josephine, Robert Dennis, Jerry Lee, Paul Henry, and Bonnie Eileen who blessed her with 25 grandchildren, 50 great-grandchildren, and 15 great-great grandchildren. When John retired from farming in 1972, he and Lavon moved into town.
Lavon never lost her desire to learn and to read. She once explained to her husband, John, early in their marriage, that books were as important to her as food was to him. She said that after she put it to him in those terms, he did not complain about her need to read and her desire to own the books she read. She wanted to own her favorites because she wanted to be able to read them again and again. Over the years she sold or gave away many of her books, but in her last small apartment, she still had shelves and shelves of books tucked away and a stack always within reach by her recliner.
Lavon had many talents and pursued many interests in her long life. She enjoyed plants and flowers, learning about history, playing cards, doing word puzzles, sewing, knitting, crocheting, embroidering, painting pictures, working at the Knoxville Reminder, and going to garage sales. With her large family, she, of course, did a lot of cooking and baking and that paid off for her when she entered a pie contest and won a motorcycle for her apple pie—a favorite memory of the grandchildren. Her grandchildren also have fond memories of her playing games with them when they were small and watching Wheel of Fortune and The Price is Right. In fact, many believe that her avid reading and playing of word puzzles is what helped keep her mind so sharp, even until the end.
Lavon was a woman of deep faith in God and trusted the Lord for guidance during the difficult times in her life and encouraged her family to do the same. She was a member of the First Reformed Church in Knoxville for over 40 years where she served as superintendent and Sunday school teacher. When the First Reformed Church closed, Lavon became a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Knoxville.
Lavon died on December 31, 2011, at the age of 97. She was preceded in death by her parents; four siblings; her husband, John, in 1987; and four grandchildren. Lavon is survived by one brother, Glen Abrahamson of Corydon; and her children: Ed DeJoode and his wife, Eunice, of Pella; Carl DeJoode and his wife, Linda, of Pleasantville; Carol Borchert and her husband, Ancil, of Knoxville; Bob DeJoode and his wife, Nancy, of Knoxville; Jerry DeJoode of Belle Plaine; Paul DeJoode and his wife, Dorothy, of Topeka, Kansas; and Bonnie Mosher and her husband, Larry, of Pleasantville; as well as many other relatives and friends. She will be greatly missed.
A visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 3 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Williams Funeral Home in Knoxville.
A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, January 4 at 10:30 a.m. at the Presbyterian Church in Knoxville. Burial will follow in Graceland Cemetery in Knoxville.
Lavon never lost her desire to learn and to read. She once explained to her husband, John, early in their marriage, that books were as important to her as food was to him. She said that after she put it to him in those terms, he did not complain about her need to read and her desire to own the books she read. She wanted to own her favorites because she wanted to be able to read them again and again. Over the years she sold or gave away many of her books, but in her last small apartment, she still had shelves and shelves of books tucked away and a stack always within reach by her recliner.
Lavon had many talents and pursued many interests in her long life. She enjoyed plants and flowers, learning about history, playing cards, doing word puzzles, sewing, knitting, crocheting, embroidering, painting pictures, working at the Knoxville Reminder, and going to garage sales. With her large family, she, of course, did a lot of cooking and baking and that paid off for her when she entered a pie contest and won a motorcycle for her apple pie—a favorite memory of the grandchildren. Her grandchildren also have fond memories of her playing games with them when they were small and watching Wheel of Fortune and The Price is Right. In fact, many believe that her avid reading and playing of word puzzles is what helped keep her mind so sharp, even until the end.
Lavon was a woman of deep faith in God and trusted the Lord for guidance during the difficult times in her life and encouraged her family to do the same. She was a member of the First Reformed Church in Knoxville for over 40 years where she served as superintendent and Sunday school teacher. When the First Reformed Church closed, Lavon became a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Knoxville.
Lavon died on December 31, 2011, at the age of 97. She was preceded in death by her parents; four siblings; her husband, John, in 1987; and four grandchildren. Lavon is survived by one brother, Glen Abrahamson of Corydon; and her children: Ed DeJoode and his wife, Eunice, of Pella; Carl DeJoode and his wife, Linda, of Pleasantville; Carol Borchert and her husband, Ancil, of Knoxville; Bob DeJoode and his wife, Nancy, of Knoxville; Jerry DeJoode of Belle Plaine; Paul DeJoode and his wife, Dorothy, of Topeka, Kansas; and Bonnie Mosher and her husband, Larry, of Pleasantville; as well as many other relatives and friends. She will be greatly missed.
A visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 3 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Williams Funeral Home in Knoxville.
A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, January 4 at 10:30 a.m. at the Presbyterian Church in Knoxville. Burial will follow in Graceland Cemetery in Knoxville.
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