Lavon Linda Buhr, 87, went home to be with her Lord Jesus in Heaven on September 9, 2011. Lavon was born August 25, 1924 to Frank and Luella (Buchholz) Mennenga in Clarksville, IA. She became a child of God through baptism at St. John's Lutheran Church in Clarksville on September 28, 1924. She was confirmed in the Lutheran faith on April 2, 1939. Lavon received her education at the Clarksville school and graduated from Waterloo West High School in 1941. Lavon did secretarial work at Morris Printing Co. in Waterloo, IA, the ALC Headquarters in Columbus, OH and Trinity American Lutheran Church in Waterloo. While working at Trinity, she was introduced to her future husband by one of her pastors there. Lavon and El Roy E. Buhr were married on July 29, 1951 at Trinity. There union was blessed with two daughters, Beth Voswinkel and Elaine Van Dyke. El Roy and Lavon served Lutheran congregations in Westgate, IA, Le Center, MN, Pine Island, MN and Parkersburg, IA. They moved to Waterloo in 1980 to live with Lavon's mother. In 2003 they moved to Elkton, SD to be closer to Elaine. El Roy preceded her in death on July 24, 2004. Lavon had been a resident of Cozy Corner Asst. Living in Elkton for the past year and a half. Lavon was a faithful helpmate to her husband in the ministry. She served as his secretary at several of the parishes. She also taught Sunday school, Bible School and Confirmation classes. Lavon valued her family very highly and was a wonderful mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Elkton.

Lavon will be greatly missed by her 2 daughters, Beth Voswinkel, Oshkosh, WI, Elaine (Dave) Van Dyke, Elkton; 7 grandchildren, Paul (Abby) Voswinkel, Wheaton, IL, Andy Voswinkel, Oshkosh, Katie Voswinkel, Woodbridge, IL, Sarah Voswinkel and Nathan Voswinkel, both of Oshkosh, Rebecca (Kyle) Dahl, Elkton, Jake Van Dyke, Elkton; 6 great-grandchildren, Clara Voswinkel, Julia Voswinkel, Pamela Dahl, Jennifer Dahl, James Dahl and Anthony Dahl; 3 sisters-in-law, Helen Brase, Lucille Buhr and Veva Buhr. Lavon is preceded in death by her husband; parents and her brother, Floyd Mennenga.

Funeral services will be Tuesday, September 13, 2011 at 11:00 AM at Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Waterloo, IA with burial at St. John's Lutheran Cemetery, Sumner, IA. Visitation will be one hour prior to the funeral on Tuesday at the church.