Graber, LaVerle Fay Kaufman (1937-1993)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1993 Jun 10 p. 9

Birth date: 1937 Jan 17

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1993 Sep 2 p. 11

text of obituary:

LaVERLE GRABER

LaVerle Fay Kaufman was born Jan. 17, 1937, to Elias and Hannah Deckert Kaufman, in Marion, S.D. She died in her home at age 56, on May 2, 1993, after an 11-year battle with cancer.

She attended Freeman Academy and Freeman Junior College. At Freeman Academy she met her future husband, LaVerne Graber. During their engagement, she taught school at District No. 66 and served two short terms of voluntary service with migrants in New York and Mississippi.

LaVerne and LaVerle were married Oct. 18, 1958. they lived on their farm near Freeman for 32 years and moved to Freeman in 1990. They had three children.

Her faith in God, belief in Christ and love for others were evident throughout her life. She was especially concerned for the spiritual welfare of her children and other youth. Even in the midst of her pain and struggles with cancer, LaVerle's thoughts and prayers were focused on reaching out to others who were hurting. She was an active church member, first at Salem-Zion, where she was baptized June 22, 1952, by Russell Mast, and following her marriage at Salem Mennonite. In the last several years, her ladies' Bible study group was a constant source of support and inspiration to her.

LaVerle's greatest loves were her husband, children and grandchildren. She will be remembered for her talents of playing piano and organ, cooking, sewing, encouraging others and volunteering for numerous community activities. She enjoyed music, reading and the beauty of the outdoors.

Survivors include her husband; a son, Kim and his wife, Kym, of San Francisco; two daughters, Shari Graber and her husband, Kim, of Freeman, and Connie Sweatman and her husband, Dan, of Los Angeles; two grandchildren; a sister, Joyce of Marion; and two brothers, Jennings Kaufman of Freeman and Burton Kaufman of Marion.