LaVerne C. Willmarth
LaVerne C. Willmarth, 88, Holcombe, dropped his anchor and set sail peacefully Monday, April 10, 2023, at Care Partners in Altoona, surrounded by his loving family.
LaVerne was born Aug. 22, 1934, in Fillmore County, Minnesota, the son of Carroll and Cecelia (Pake) Willmarth.
Later, his family moved to Holcombe, where he attended the Arnold School until eighth grade and later Lake Holcombe High School. After graduation, he worked in Chicago, Ill., Madison, Detroit, Mich., and Kenosha.
He got drafted into the Army in June of 1956, and ended up in Germany, until May of 1958.
LaVerne married Gloria Hatfield Nov. 14, 1959. He worked at the Cornell Paper Mill, before getting his degrees as an electrician and in refrigeration.
LaVerne was a creative man and built the Slo Gin II, a paddlewheel boat. They also had a houseboat for a few years, down on the Mississippi River, in Trempealeau.
LaVerne and Gloria lived on Lake Holcombe, and built a beautiful home and landscaped yard, complete with a train set running through the flower gardens and a beacon lighthouse on the point. LaVerne and Mark built many model airplanes, and had a complete model train village set up.
He had a passion for wild animals; also, so for many years, you could find crows, mink, fox, pheasants, quail and etc., in the yard. He loved watching the birds, and knew almost all their names and could identify them by their sounds.
LaVerne was a devoted husband to Gloria for 64 years, and a loving father to his three children. He was a hard worker and could fix just about anything.
He enjoyed the outdoors, while boating, hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, dancing (chicken-scratching) and gardening.
LaVerne was part of the first Flambeau Area Trail Tenders and Lake Holcombe Slush Runners. He enjoyed traveling around the United States, and went back to Scotland and England, with some of his family.
He is survived by his wife – Gloria (Hatfield); children – Rhonda (Pat) Wallace, Lori (Bob) Anderson and Mark (Anneleise) Willmarth; grandchildren – Heather, Alisha, Ashley, Eric, Joshua, Graci and Kaleb; 11 great-grandchildren; his sisters – Rosella and Ruby; his brothers – Lyle and Larry; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and a greatgranddaughter – Adalaide. A celebration of LaVerne’s life will be held Aug. 5, on Lake Holcombe. His memories will forever be with his beloved family and friends. Sail away, Dad!
