LaVerne L. Cheever died peacefully on February 27, 2016, at Willow Ridge Healthcare. He was born on October 22, 1921, to Elsie (Liddell) and Robert Cheever and grew up in Jim Falls, WI. He worked as a laborer on the family farm and for the county, working on roads and parks. He married Francis Stephenson in Iowa 1942 and two children – Joyce and Stephen -- were born to the couple.

In 1943, LaVerne joined the Army and was assigned to the 66th Army Signal Corps and trained to be a medic, later joining the 122nd Evacuation Hospital which was sent to the European theatre of WWII via the HMS Queen Elizabeth. Stationed in England initially, the group was sent to Beauraing, Belgium, and then into Germany during the Battle of the Bulge, ultimately ending up setting up their hospital at a convent in Ahrweiler (near Remagen) and remaining there till the end of the war.

After the war, LaVerne and Francis made their home in Belvedere, IL and Chippewa Falls, WI. In 1964, they moved to Mission Hills, CA, where LaVerne and Francis were employed by the Veterans Administration – he as a supervisor for the maintenance department and she as a pie baker for the kitchen. He retired in 1983 and subsequently, they moved to Colfax, CA for Francis's health.

Francis passed away in 2006 and in 2007, LaVerne moved to the town of Garfield to be closer to family. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Francis, his sister Vivian, his son Stephen and his grandson, Phillip. He is survived by his daughter, Joyce (Ed Gullickson), 10 grandchildren and multiple great-grandchildren.

A Private Family burial will take place at a later date in the spring time in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin.

Memorials may be sent to Joyce Gullickson (1588 90thAve, Amery) and will be used to purchase trees for Wapogasset Park in Laverne's name.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Williamson-White Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 222 Harriman Avenue North Amery, Wisconsin.