Lavern A. Ewert, age 86 of Waldorf, died on Friday, January 13, 2012 at Mayo Clinic Health System-Albert Lea.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, January 16th at 2 p.m. at First Lutheran Church in Waldorf with Rev. Michael Mathews officiating. Interment with military honors will follow in the church cemetery in Waldorf.
Visitation will be held on Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. at Arnoldt-McRaith Funeral Home in Janesville, and will continue on Monday afternoon for one hour prior to services, at church. In lieu of flowers memorials preferred to donor’s choice.
Lavern August was born on May 12, 1925 in Waseca, Minnesota to August and Marie (Jaeger) Ewert. He was baptized and confirmed at First Lutheran Church in Waldorf. Lavern was active in baseball and basketball during high school, and was Salutatorian of his Waldorf High School graduating class. He went on to attend Mankato Teachers College until he was called into the Army Air Force Cadet program. Lavern served in the Army Air Corps on a B-24 crew during WWII. Following his honorable discharge he attended the University of Minnesota before returning home to take over the family business, Ewert’s Fairway Store. Lavern was united in marriage to Margaret Bleck on September 19, 1948 at Zoars Church in rural Waldorf.
Lavern served as Waldorf’s Postmaster for over 48 years, retiring in September of 1988. During his career Lavern earned numerous awards, including Postmaster of the Year for the State of Minnesota. Lavern was a 35-year member of the Waldorf Volunteer Fire Department. He was recognized for 50 years of service in the DNR Firearms Safety Program for the State of Minnesota. Lavern was instrumental in the formation of the Waldorf American Legion Post #587. He was very active in the post, and for many years served as coach for the Babe Ruth Legion baseball team, among many other volunteer positions. In 2006 he was recognized for his contribution of 60 years of continuous service to the post.
He is survived by his wife Margaret, sons Danny Ewert of Minneapolis and Rex (Kris) Ewert of Marine on St. Croix, by his daughter Becky (Francis) Pfeffer of Albert Lea, and his daughter-in-law Mary Ewert-Knodell (David Knodell) of Corcoran, by 8 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren, by his sister Vernell Adams of Watertown, SD.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his son Lanny Ewert, sister Iraline (George) Eichorst, and a brother at infancy.
Casketbearers are: Jerod Pfeffer, Chaise Ewert Meyer, Amy Pfeffer Madsen, Alex Knodell, Claire Knodell, Brooke Ewert, Gunnar Ewert and Paige Ewert.