Lavida C. (Lillge) Werner

Lavida C. (Lillge) Werner, 98, of Appleton, Wisconsin, was welcomed into the arms of our Lord on Sunday morning September 22, 2013.
Lavida was born July 31, 1915, in the Town of Center, Wisconsin, and was the daughter of the late Louis and Wella (Griese) Lillge. She attended St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Grade School and then the Vocational School in Appleton.

Lavida married Grover A. Werner on April 17, 1939, (Easter Sunday) at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church in Appleton. Grover preceded her in death January 17, 1973. She was an active member of St. Peter Lutheran Church, Forestville, Wisconsin, where she was a member of the Ladies Aid and in the church choir. Lavida was also a member of the Ladies Aid at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Lavida and Grover spent many years in the restaurant business. They started with a Drive-in in Forestville in the 1960s which naturally included car hops. The family moved to Algoma where they operated “Grover's” soda shop. Lavida was known as “Ma” Werner to all the teenagers in town while serving hamburgers, French fries, home-made ice cream and their famous cherry cokes. She also enjoyed singing with the Algoma's Sweet Adelines. Lavida's hobbies included embroidery, dart ball, bowling and crosswords puzzles.

Lavida is survived by her children and their spouses, Marlin and Eleanor Werner, Rhinelander; Carol and Karl Hoppe, Menasha; Tom and Renee Werner, Luxemburg; and Dan and Sue Werner, Green Bay; her grandchildren, Dan Lynn (Bobbie Jo) Werner, Dr. Mike (Michelle) Werner, John (Lori) Werner, Zak (Amy) Werner, Alisha Werner, Andrew Werner and Austin Werner; her great grandchildren, Cody, Elizabeth, Olivia, Blake, Madison, Lilian, Ethan, Grace and Autumn. Lavida is also survived by nieces, nephews and numerous cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband, Grover; her parents; brother Gerald Lillge; sister and brother-in-law, Mae and Gerald Krueger and sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Margie and Harvey Hart.

The Christian Funeral for Lavida will at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 25, 2013, at ST. PAUL EV. LUTHERAN CHURCH, 302 Morrison Street, Appleton, with Rev. Kenneth L. Frey and Rev. Peter Walther Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services. Online condolences may be expressed at www.wichmannfargo.com

Lavida had spent a lifetime caring for others including her husband, mother, and brother. For such a small lady she sure had a big heart.

A big thank you to the staff of Oakridge Garden Nursing Center, especially to Cathy and Gordana for the love and care you gave to our mother.