Lavern Stirnemann

A wonderful mother, wife, friend and daughter, Lavern Stirnemann, 88, of Mountain View, Ark., passed away peacefully in her sleep Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014, after a brief illness.

She was born Feb. 28, 1925, in Jackson, to Nellie Burns. She was a loving wife (and caretaker at the end of his life in 2000) to her husband, Oliver Stirnemann.

She was preceded in death by a sister, Jewel, and brother-in-law, James Cady.

Survivors include two daughters and sons-in law, Becki and David Dahlstedt of Mountain View and Bonnie Whitler and Otho Hinchey of Richmond, Calif.; beloved and only grandson, Nathan Hinchey of El Cerrito, Calif.; a niece, Sharon Cady of Crystal City, Mo.; and a lifelong friend, Billie Roth of Woodinville, Wash.

Lavern was a good friend to many in Cape Girardeau, where she and her first husband, Leon Whitler of Jackson, raised their family. After their divorce, she lived in Cape Girardeau until she married Oliver Stirnemann. The couple resided first in Arnold, Mo., and later moved to Cape Coral, Fla., and Haynes City, Fla. From there they relocated to Hot Springs Village, Ark., where she lived until she moved to Mountain View in November 2010 to be near her daughter and son-in-law, Becki and David Dahlstedt.

Even during her illness, Lavern's spirit and tremendous sense of humor were appreciated by all who tended her.

Roller-Crouch Funeral Home in Mountain View is in charge of arrangements.

An online memorial can be found at lavern-stirnemann.forevermissed.com, where you can share your memories of Lavern's life. Lavern will be missed by all who knew her.

The family asks that donations be made in Lavern's memory to your local food bank or to the Richmond Emergency Food Pantry, P.O. Box 2598, El Cerrito, CA 94530 (REFP.org).