It is with sorrow and gratitude that we mark the passing of Lavonne Zeiszler, 80, — sorrow at the loss, gratitude for the life.
Here is the shape of a life remembered with love.
The story begins in 1936, with the arrival of a life that would be cherished by many.
Lavonne held deeply to the Lutheran faith — and was, by all accounts, loved by those who knew her best.
Faith is the language some lives are written in. Lavonne's was one.
Lavonne M. Zeiszler Lavonne M. Zeiszler, 80 died Friday, January 6, 2017 at Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls. Funeral services will be at 2:00pm Wednesday, January 11, 2017 at Zion Lutheran Church in Hurley with burial in the Hurley Cemetery. Visitation will be with family present from 5-7pm Tuesday at Hofmeister Jones Funeral Home, Parker with a Prayer Service at 7:00pm. Lavonne Margaret Larsen was born on March 1, 1936 in Hurley, SD to Andreas and Maxine (Elliott) Larsen. She graduated from Hurley High School in 1954. On July 1, 1960 she was united in marriage with John Zeiszler. The couple resided in Pierre where they worked and raised their two children. Lavonne worked for the South Dakota Health Department and later for the South Dakota Low Income Energy Assistance Program where she worked until her retirement. She also did bookkeeping for the family businesses: Johnny's Amoco, Johnny's Towing, and Tri-State Auto Parts. Lavonne was an active member of Faith Lutheran Church in Pierre where she participated in LWML and the Berea Circle that took care of the church library. She loved to read, play cards, bowl, and spend time with her family boating and snowmobiling. John and Lavonne built a cabin in the Black Hills and enjoyed many hours relaxing and entertaining the grandchildren there. After having a non-cancerous brain tumor removed in 2008, she experienced numerous health problems. The couple moved to Sioux Falls in 2012 to be closer to family and medical care. Grateful for having shared her life are her husband John, Sioux Falls, SD; daughter Sherry (Bob) Nelson, Sioux Falls, SD; son Michael Zeiszler, Sioux Falls, SD; 3 grandchildren, Andrew (fiancé Isabel Kirchner) Nelson, Sioux Falls, SD; Joseph Nelson, Manitou Springs, CO; Jacob Nelson, Sioux Falls, SD; and 5 brothers and sisters, Roger Larsen, Viborg, SD; Miriam (Leroy) Lonning, Parker, SD; Avis (Jim) Georgeson, Hurley, SD; Marty (Barb) Larsen, Hurley, SD and Lynne (Joel) Mueller Osborne, Sumter, SC. She was preceded in death by her parents.
