LaVon E. Hornbostel, 88, of Palmer, died June 23, 2022 at the Linn Community Nursing Home.
Visitation will be held Monday, June 27, from 3 to 8 p.m. at Ward Funeral Home in Linn. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m.
A funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, June 28, at St. John Lutheran Church, Palmer.
Burial will be in St. John Lutheran Cemetery.
LaVon Eleanor was born on September 13, 1933 to Theodore and Sophia (Bierbaum) Rabe at Palmer. She was baptized September 24, 1933 and confirmed March 30, 1947 at St. John Lutheran Church. LaVon attended St. John Lutheran Grade School and graduated Linn Rural High School in 1951.
On December 16, 1956, she was united in marriage to Donald G.W. Hornbostel at St. John Lutheran Church.
Before her marriage, LaVon performed office work for Duckwalls and C&W Rural Electric in Clay Center. After she was married, she worked at the Palmer Café, Palmer Store, Linn Community Nursing Home and the Morganville Locker. In 1979, she was employed by the Washington County Appraiser and later the County Clerk’s office. In November 1988 she was elected Washington County Clerk and served until her retirement in 1997.
LaVon was a lifetime member of St John Lutheran Church, was AAL Branch treasurer, Lutheran Women’s Missionary League treasurer, a member of the Linn-Palmer Saddle Club and belonged to the Kansas County Clerks and Election Officials Association.
LaVon enjoyed quilting by hand, embroidering, reading, her flower garden, playing piano and collecting recipes – so many recipes! She loved to host and cook large family dinners, preparing everyone’s favorite dish or snacks; usually in large quantities so there were plenty of leftovers to go home with everyone. An encourager, she often clipped items from local newspapers and sent them with a handwritten “Thinking of You” card. Her grandchildren brought her immense joy.
Preceding her in death were her parents; husband, Donald; brother and wife, Donald (Eunice) Rabe; sister, Carol Rabe; and infant siblings, Norman Rabe and Irene Rabe.
Survivors include sons, Randall (Jean) Hornbostel, Box Elder, SD, James (Martha) Hornbostel, Allen (Mary) Hornbostel, both of Palmer; sister-in-law, Estella Gardner, Spring Hill, FL; and seven grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren and eight great-great grandchildren.
A memorial fund is established to St. John Lutheran Church. Contributions may be sent in care of Ward Funeral Home.
