LaVerne Alice Mueller

Memorials to: Leaders Dogs for the Blind LaVerne (Denker) Mueller was born October 20, 1916 to John and Mabel (Glandt) Denker on the family farm in Brunswich, Nebraska. They moved several times while LaVerne was growing up. She started school in Elkhorn, then went to Omaha, and finally graduated in Valley in 1936. She worked for Grandpa Denker in the Chevrolet garage as a bookkeeper for several years. LaVerne met Werner Mueller through his brother, and the two started dating, going to the Millard Ball Room, Peony Park, and the Elkhorn Dance Hall. They were married in the parsonage of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Bennington on December 22, 1936. The temperature was 14 degrees below zero. LaVerne and Werner worked for Grandpa Denker in Denker Chevrolet garage and started Valley Transfer before selling the company in 1947. They lived in Valley for ten years, where Joyce, Merrill, and Monte were born. They lived in seven different houses there. After Joyce’s death in 1959, Jim and LaVerne adopted her two daughters, Lori and Lisa. This is when LaVerne went from Grandma to Mommy all over again. She dedicated her entire life to her family who will miss her dearly. LaVerne and Werner moved to a farm four miles north of Elkhorn. They farmed for ten years, during which the family had two barn fires, were dried out, hailed out, and had a tornado that took their windmill. They sold the farm and moved to Elkhorn, where Werner and LaVerne worked for several companies. They later bought a welding supply company with George Trapp in Council Bluffs in 1963. They called it Dahl Welding Supply Company. They worked together, and LaVerne was in charge of the books. They sold out in 1980 and retired. In 1980, they became very involved in helping create the Eagles Club #3943 in Elkhorn. LaVerne was a chartered member and served as the first Past President. They both held offices all those years. In 1996, Werner was voted a State Father of the Year, and LaVerne was voted State Grandmother of the Year. This was quite an honor to be picked out of the entire state of Nebraska for these offices. In 2001, they retired as officers of the Club. LaVerne passed away on Saturday, September 22, 2018 at Life Care Center of Elkhorn at the age of 101 years, 11 months, and 2 days. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Joyce; husband, Werner; her parents, John and Mabel, and sister, Lorraine. She is survived by her sons, Merrill of Mead and Monte (Sandy) of Yutan; daughters, Lori (Steve) Gottsch of Elkhorn and Lisa (Donny) O’Dell of Elkhorn; 11 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandson.

LaVerne Alice Mueller

October 20, 1916 - September 22, 2018