Lavonne J. Leibl

LaVonne J. Leibl, 79, of La Crosse died peacefully in her home Friday Dec. 18, 2015 of pancreatic cancer. She was born March 2, 1936 in La Crosse to Joseph and Dorothy (Hoyer) Lipovetz. LaVonne worked as a popcorn girl at the Wisconsin Theater in La Crosse (her kid brother Gordy fondly remembers the free popcorn) and after graduating from La Crosse Central High School in 1954, worked as a secretary at Household Finance.

In 1955 she married William Brauer and was a military wife in Rapid City, SD until Bill left the Air Force in 1963 when they returned to La Crosse with their 3 children. She worked as a bookkeeper for the Occupation and Rehabilitation Center, then for Bill's Cycle Inn, the family business. In 1991, she graduated as a non-traditional student from UWL with a BS in Recreational Therapy and was employed by Bethany St. Joseph Onalaska Care Center until her retirement. Bill died in 2004 and in 2005 she married Henry Leibl, her late-in-life prince (charming).

LaVonne was an active member of First Lutheran Church in La Crosse and thoroughly enjoyed Women's Bible Study, the Rotary Lights Nativity Scene and helping others as a leader in her Jesus Cares Ministries. She was an avid quilter and fabric collector and a devoted fan of the great Brett Favre, on whatever team he played.

She is survived by her husband, Henry, of Onalaska, her brother Gordon of Ajo, Arizona, her three children, Jeff Brauer of Madison and his son - Avery, Julie Ramos of La Crosse and her four children- Sabrina, Tony, Stephanie (David) Rivera (in California) and Jesse, and Bill (Sandy) Brauer of La Crescent and their children - Nate, Trevor (Ying), Clay and Alivia Fuhrman, as well as step children Mary (Rodney) Warnecke of Watertown, WI and their children – Bethany (Brad) Gurgel, Darin, and Philip, Sue (Todd) Greene of West Salem and their children – Adam and Andy Greene, Kris (Dave) Schneider of Bangor and their children – Mikel and Matthew, and David (Cathy) Leibl of West Salem and their children – Ben (Heidi), Jacob, and Joseph. She was also blessed with 5 great grandchildren, Jaime, Dominic, Kayla, Mason and Bennett. She was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband Bill and her beloved dog Molly.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, December 22, 2015 at 11:00 AM at First Ev. Lutheran Church, 400 West Avenue So., La Crosse. Pastor Richard Pamperin will officiate. Private family burial will be in the Dakota Cemetery, Dakota, MN. Friends may call at First Ev. Lutheran Church on Monday from 4:00 – 7:00 PM and again on Tuesday from 10:00 AM until the time of services. Memorials may be given to First Ev. Lutheran Church or Luther High School.