Lavonne Schelling

LaVonne Schelling, age 82, of Sioux Center, Iowa died Monday, March 18, 2024, at Sioux Center Health in Sioux Center.  

A family prayer service will be held at 10:00am on Friday, March 22, 2024, at New Life Church in Sioux Center with burial to follow in Memory Gardens Cemetery in Sioux Center.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am Friday, March 22, 2024, at New Life Church in Sioux Center with Pastor Dan Kruse officiating. 

Visitation with family present will be from 5:00-7:00pm on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at New Life Church in Sioux Center. 

Memorial Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements. 

In lieu of flowers or gifts the family prefers memorials be directed to the June E. Nylen Cancer Center. 

LaVonne was born July 6, 1941, in Sioux Center, Iowa, the daughter of Cornelius and Lois (Van Gorp) Rensink.  She grew up on a farm near Middleburg and attended country school before attending Sioux Center Community School, graduating in 1959. On July 15, 1960, she was united in marriage to John R. Schelling at the First Reformed Church in Sioux Center.  They spent two years living in LeMars, then in 1962 began farming near Lebanon on the farm where John grew up.  They lived there for seven years before moving to the Rensink family farm near Middleburg, where they raised their family.  In May of 1993, they sold the acreage and moved to Sioux Center, where they enjoyed many Sunday dinners with their growing family. 

LaVonne was a stay-at-home mom. After the kids had grown, she worked at a bakery in Orange City for a few years. She then worked at Wal-Mart for 19 years until her retirement.  She was a member of New Life Church, attending many Bible studies and Morning Glory Circle.  She enjoyed embroidering flour sack towels and making knotted blankets for church auctions and her family.  Each one of her children and grandchildren received many of her creations.  She also enjoyed baking and spending time with her family and friends. Some of her most cherished baked goods were her apple pie, banana bread, cream puff dessert and Special K bars.

Her family will remember her as great prayer warrior, praying for her family as well as many others. She truly was a gentle spirit and a picture of  unconditional love.

Those left to treasure her memory are her husband of 63 years, John; and their children: 

Jim & Lynn (Rus) Schelling and children: Jonathan & fiancé MacKenzie De Jong; Nathan; Kyle & fiancé Ashley Meldrum.

Sue Leaverton and children: Ben & Tessa De Wit - Eloise & Roman; Jeremy & Kayla De Wit - Autumn, Jacob, & Jase; Vince Leaverton; Willie & Courtney Leaverton.

Carl & Kelly (Kaskie) Schelling and children: Amber & Cory Knutson - Charlie, Oliver, Alexander & Theodore; Derick; Kati & Jacob Mannel.

Scott & Vicki (Venenga) Schelling and children: Erin & Trey.

Sister: Ruth & Warren Dekkers; John’s sisters: Jeane Zomer and Joanne Zomer, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; parents-in-law, Rochus & Jennie Schelling; and in-laws: Cornelius (Case) & Gert (Vande Hoef) Schelling; 4-year-old Jan Schelling; Henrietta & Klaas Knibbe; Alida & Edward Ymker; 12-year-old John Schelling; Emma & Gerrit Roskam; Gilbert & Wilma (Van Der Schaaf) Schelling; infant Fredrika Schelling;   7-year-old William Schelling; Herman Zomer; Cornelius (Cork) Zomer, and infant Schelling brother.