LaVonne Antoinette Wernimont (I JUST LOVE BEING A MOTHER) ,88 of Carroll, died Sunday, January 25, 2026 at her residence in Carroll.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m., Saturday, February 7, 2026 at Holy Spirit Church – St. John Paul II Parish in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Fr. Patrick Behm. Concelebrant will be Fr. Timothy Johnson. Music will be by Kathy Halbur and Rachel Naughton. Cross Bearer will be Brynle Wernimont. Lectors will be Kyle Wernimont and Alyssa Wernimont. Gift Bearers will be Angelle Stewart and Addyson Wernimont. Casket Bearers will be Kyle Wernimont, Addyson Wernimont, Alyssa Wernimont, Dillon Wernimont, Beckett Wernimont, Nicholas Wernimont, Natalie Wernimont, Brynle Wernimont, Angelle Stewart, Elizabeth Newman and Ryan Newman. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carroll.
A visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, February 6, 2026 at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll with a rosary at 7 p.m. The casket will be moved to Holy Spirit Church on Saturday morning where additional visitation will be from 9-9:45 a.m.
Memorials may be left at the funeral home or the church for Kuemper Catholic School Foundation or St. Anthony Cancer Center.
Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for LaVonne’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
LaVonne was born Jan 23rd, 1938, to Mathias and Eleanor (Hoesing) Kuker. She grew up on the family farm west of Carroll. LaVonne graduated from Kuemper Catholic High School in 1956, where she was recognized for her involvement in choral activities. She began her college life at Duchesne College in Omaha. She graduated from the College of St. Mary’s in Omaha with a major in Education and minors in History and English.
She began her teaching career at St. Cecilia’s in Omaha. She then taught at St. Peter and Paul’s (now Kuemper) in Carroll and taught for two years at St. Cecilia’s in Ames, IA, while Leon finished his work for his DVM Degree.
LaVonne Married Leon J. Wernimont on June 2nd, 1962, at St Peter and Paul’s Church in Carroll, IA. A marriage that lasted 63 years before her passing.
Leon and LaVonne moved back to Carroll in 1965 after Leon obtained his DVM Degree and joined Carroll Veterinary Clinic.
Although she continued as a substitute teacher at CCSD and Kuemper for nearly twenty years, this marked a transition in her life from being a teacher to being a mother, a homemaker, and to other things she enjoyed.
She became active in Girl Scouts and served as a Brownie leader for several years. She was also active with her children in 4H. She was a leader for ten years and helped her children win many blue ribbons at the local level as well as the Iowa State Fair. LaVonne was a member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority and served as a school volunteer at St. Lawrence Elementary School.
As a partner in Wernimont Hog Farm she was also active in pork production and promotion. She served a term as President of the Carroll County Porkettes.
Baking was one of her passions and strong suits. Her most requested items included apple pie, coconut crème pie, and German chocolate cake.
LaVonne enjoyed traveling, she visited forty-nine of the fifty states and at least nine foreign countries. One of her most memorable adventures was a 15-day visit to Brazil.
Nevertheless, above all of these things that she loved was the love for her husband. She will be MOST remembered for her statement made innumerable times of “I JUST LOVE BEING A MOTHER!”
LaVonne was survived by Her Husband, Dr. Leon J. Wernimont; Her children, Michael Wernimont, Michelle Wernimont, Pat Wernimont, Rene (Tim) Newman, Scott (Maura) Wernimont, Sue Wernimont, James (Catherine) Wernimont, Lynn (Nikki) Wernimont; Her grandchildren; Kyle Wernimont, Dillon (Allison) Wernimont, Alyssa Wernimont, Angelle (Sam) Stewart, Addyson Wernimont, Elizabeth Newman, Ryan Newman, Nicholas Wernimont, Natalie Wernimont, Beckett Wernimont, Brynle Wernimont; 4 great grandchildren; Brother, Robert Kuker; Sister, Rilla (Lloyd) Soetmelk, Brother-in-law, Paul Wernimont; Sister-in-law, Sr. Cormarie F.S.P.A., Diane (John) Nowik, and Rita (Chuck) Taylor.
LaVonne was preceded in her death by her parents, Mathias and Eleanor; father and mother-in-law, LT and Amelia Wernimont; siblings Lois Graham, Evan Kuker, Morrie Kuker, Richard Kuker, Allan Kuker, Tom Kuker, Marvin Kuker, Joleen Happe, Ronnie Kuker, and Jaque Rattenburg; daughter-in-law, Julie Wernimont; and grandson, Garrett Wernimont.
