LaVerne Morris Woods

            LaVerne M. Woods born August 4,1930 in Jamestown, NY died August 16, 2022.

LaVerne (Woody) Woods, 92, passed away at OFS St. Elizabeth Hospital in Ottawa, IL.

            Visitation will be Saturday, September 3rd, 2022 from 9:00-11:00 am at First Lutheran Church in Princeton, IL. A celebration of life service will be after the visitation, which will also include Military Rites. Reverend Gene Vincent, a long time friend of Woody, will be officiating. Burial will be private at Oakland Cemetery.

            LaVerne was the only child of Leslie and Rilla (DeForest) Woods. On August 28, 1952 LaVerne married Joyce Thurston in Frewsburg, NY. They were married 64 years. Woody was her primary caregiver for many years before she passed away from dementia in 2017. Together they had four children. L. Mark, Dawn, Lisa and Linden. Surviving are their two daughters, Dawn Woods (Taka Nomura) of Santa Barbara, Ca. and Lisa (Kevin) Berryman of Ottawa, Il. Woody and Joyce had six grandchildren; Benjamin Nomura, Natalie (Ross) Strahan, Zachary Berryman, Daniel (Shana) Berryman, Elizabeth (Tyler) Bernardoni and Nathan Berryman (Hannah Simpson). They were blessed with seven Great-grandchildren; Aubrey, Danie and Jolie Berryman, William, Lindy Grace and Eli Bernardoni and Mackenzie Strahan.

            LaVerne graduated from Jamestown High School in 1948. He served in the National Guard and joined the United States Air Force in 1951 serving during the Korean War until 1955.

            LaVerne had several careers mostly in banking and finance. He was a member of the Lions Club and the Benevolent Order of the Elks. In his spare time he enjoyed tennis, golf, bowling, caning chairs and baking. He was known for his trays of cookies and candies that he gave away every year at Christmas. He and Joyce also enjoyed traveling, watching their grandchildren in church and school activities, and serving on Via de Christo weekends. Woody is probably best known for his quick wit and his dry sense of humor. His smile and the mischievous twinkle in his eye will be missed by all who knew him.

            Woody and Joyce lost both of their sons to tragic accidents. Mark passed away at age 13 from a head injury and Linden (Lindy) passed away at 18 from a car accident in 1988. Through both of these heartbreaking tragedies their faith in God remained steadfast. They used their loss to help others who had also experienced loss. Their faith is a legacy they left behind to their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

            In lieu of flowers please donate to First Lutheran Church of Princeton, the Alzheimer’s Association or Mission 22.

            Online condolences may be sent to www.grant-johnsonfh.com.