Obit: Heikkinen, LaVaun R. (1936 – 2016)

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Neeb, Heikkinen, Cone, Thayer, Wetzel, Schultz, Starr, Wiire

----Source: Tribune/Record/Gleaner (Abbotsford, Wis.) 25 May 2016

Heikkenen, LaVaun R. (27 MAR 1936 – 23 MAY 2016)

LaVaun R. “Vonnie” Neeb Heikkinen, 80, Eveleth, Minn., formerly of Loyal, died on Monday, May 23, 2016, at Essentia Health–Virginia, in Virginia, Minn. Funeral services were held at 1:30 p.m., on Friday, May 27, at United In Christ Lutheran Church in Eveleth. Rev. Steve Weston officiated. Burial was in the Gilbert Cemetery in Gilbert, Minn.

LaVaun Rowene Neeb was born on March 27, 1936, in Loyal, to Oscar and Gladys (nee Cone) Neeb. She was raised on a farm in rural Loyal and was a 1954 graduate of Loyal High School. In 1958, she graduated from Stout Institute in Menomonie with a degree in home economics. While she was there, she was the first woman to receive a sports letter at Stout and also at that time met her husband, Jack Heikkinen there. Following her graduation, she worked for the Extension Service in Dodge Center, Minn. On March 23, 1963, she married Jack D. Heikkinen in Loyal. They lived in Rochester, Minn., Sparta, Minn., and Union Lake, Mich., prior to returning to Sparta in 1965. Jack died on Aug. 13, 2006. She was a devoted stay-at-home mother and housewife, a loving grandma and an active civic and community member. She served as leader for the Sparta Sparkettes 4-H Club and was active with the North St. Louis County 4-H and fair. LaVaun was an active member of United In Christ Lutheran and the former United Lutheran Church of Gilbert where she taught Sunday School and served on church council, prayer chain and women’s groups. She also was a member of the Gilbert Blue Line Club, PTA, and served as election judge at the Sparta Community Center. She especially enjoyed storytelling, sports, traveling, gardening, listening to country music, talking on the phone and watching TV. She especially enjoyed the American Welding Society gatherings. Her past five years have been spent living with her daughter, Holly.

Survivors include her son, Scott (Penny) Heikkinen of Sparta, Minn.; two daughters, Lynette (Jon) Thayer of Champlin, Minn., and Holly Heikkinen of Eveleth, Minn.; her grandchildren: Stacy Heikkinen of Virginia, Minn., and Patrick Heikkinen of Sparta, Minn., Sean (Trina) Thayer of Tampa, Fla., Amanda Thayer of Champlin, and Nick Paul of Eveleth; her great-grandchildren, Scarlette and Sophia; a sister, Joyce (Walter) Wetzel of Neillsville; a brother, Neil (Gloria) Neeb of Rice, Minn.; sisters and brothers-in-law: Peggy (Jim) Schultz of Champlin, Patty (John) Starr of Britt, Minn., and LeRoy (MaryAnn) Wiire of Buhl, Minn.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Jack; her sisters and brothers-in-law: Marjorie Wiire, and Jim and Jeanne Ritacco; a niece, Betty Jean Wetzel; and her mother and father-in-law, Ted and Vienna Heikkinen.