Lavonne Lee Zimmerman

The beautiful soul of LaVonne Zimmerman, 89, formerly of Urbandale and Marshalltown, passed away Sunday, November 10, 2024 at Oakview Nursing Home in Conrad.

Services for LaVonne will take place Saturday, November 16 at 11:00 A.M. at Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown. She will be laid to rest at Liscomb Cemetery. Friends and family are also invited to attend a visitation on Friday, November 15 from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. at Mitchell Family Funeral Home. For additional information or online condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234.

Born LaVonne Lee Ewalt on April 3, 1935 in Albion, Iowa, she was the daughter of Harry “Ronald” and Mildred (Robinson) Ewalt. She graduated from Green Mountain High School, where she excelled at playing basketball. She also worked as a “candy striper” at the Iowa Veterans Home for a brief time.

In a twist of fate, while passing a friend’s doorway, her suitcase caught and flew open, dumping all her clothes on the ground. While flustered gathering up her clothes, that friend’s brother commented “whoever that was, I’d like to meet her.” The two met and on January 12, 1954, LaVonne was united in marriage to Duane Zimmerman at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Marshalltown, with the reception at the Bohemian Hall. In their younger years, they loved bowling, music and spending time with friends at the KC Dance Hall. The couple celebrated 69 years of marriage together prior to Duane’s passing in 2023.

In addition to the love and devotion LaVonne gave to her husband and children, she was also caretaker for her parents for many years. She always kept busy and wasn’t afraid of hard work or getting her hands dirty, especially when it came to helping out at the family farm. LaVonne loved flowers and kept large gardens. She also loved to travel, most recently enjoying the changing of the leaves during her favorite time of year. In her recent years, she looked forward to any adventures, like small road trips and visiting the casino. LaVonne enjoyed her time at Oakview, always looking forward to balloon volleyball, Bingo and the parachute game. But her favorite activity came every Thursday, when she got to listen to live music from her room with a friend.

Family meant more than anything to LaVonne and she truly cherished all the time she spent with them. She especially loved babies and enjoyed doting on her nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great-granddaughter. She had an infectious smile and laugh, with an ability to bring so much joy to those around her.

Left to cherish her memory are her children: Mark Zimmerman of Urbandale and Cindy (Edwin) Gay of Marshalltown; son-in-law Nate Wolfe of Urbandale; five grandchildren: Shem Barger, Vanessa Hageman, Nick Barger, Luke Barger and Aaron Gay; seven great-grandchildren: Caleb, Noah, Kaylee, Isabella, Bond, Bentley and Weston; one great-great-granddaughter Ali; two sisters: Arlene (Don) Nehring and Helen Tysma; brothers-in-law Donovan “Donny” Zimmerman of Stratford, WI and Sonny (Bonita) Zimmerman of Sedalia, MO; sister-in-law Marian (Bob) McKee of Croton-on-Hudson, NY; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In eternal life, LaVonne is united with her beloved husband, Duane; her daughter Alice Wolfe; her parents; sister Faye Zimmerman; two brothers: Bob (Jane) Ewalt and Bud Ewalt; and brothers-in-law: Robert (Mari) Zimmerman and Alan Tysma.