LaVern A. Shogren

LaVern A. Shogren, 80, of Marquette, Iowa, died Sunday, Oct. 18, at Gundersen Lutheran Hospital in La Crosse. 

LaVern Alden Shogren was born April 6, 1935, at home in Village Creek, rural Lansing, Iowa, the son of Alden and Agnes (Erickson) Shogren. When he was eight years old his father died, and after completing the 9th grade at Waukon High School, LaVern needed to quit school to help on the family farm. LaVern continued farming throughout his life until retiring in the mid-1990s. On July 22, 1961, he married Judy Meier in Decorah, Iowa. On the farm, he loved the harvest season and enjoyed working with the dairy cows. After retiring from farming, LaVern was a dealer/owner at the Schoolhouse Antique Mall in Marquette; he sold the business in 2006.

LaVern liked going to auctions and looking for Depression glassware, crockery, water pitchers, and die-cast tractors. Some of these he kept for his own collections and some he sold at the antique mall. He enjoyed listening to bluegrass country music, and going fishing and bowling. LaVern also liked traveling around the country, but maintained that Iowa was the best state.

LaVern is survived by his wife Judy of Marquette; his children, Diane Shogren of Ames, Lisa (Jerry) Griffey of Des Moines, and Derrick Shogren of Lansing; his sister Delores Schellhammer of Lansing; his brother Gene Shogren of Waterville; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant son Mark Allen; his brother Kenneth (Lorraine) Shogren; brother-in-law Harlan Schellhammer; and sister-in-law Joyce Shogren.

A celebration of life will be held Thursday, Oct. 22, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon, Iowa. Refreshments will be served as well.

Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.