Lavern N Kranz

Lavern N. Kranz, age 88, Clark, died in the Golden Living Center at Clark early Thursday, May 26, 2016. Visitation will be held on Monday, May 30, 2016 from 5-7 PM with a Liturgical Wake Service at 7PM all in the Furness Funeral Home Chapel at Clark.  Visitation will continue at the Church after 9AM on Tuesday morning. A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, May 31, 2016 at 10:30 AM in the St. Michael's Catholic Church at Clark with The Reverend John Short officiating. Burial will follow in the St. Boniface Cemetery. Casketbearers will Kyle Nelson, Justin Brandsrud, Casey Janisch, Jacob Kranz, Greg Pesall, and Kent Anderson. He was born on November 28, 1927 at Watertown, the son of Carl and Rosalia (Sturm) Kranz.  Lavern attended grade school at Kranzburg and  Henry High School, graduating in 1946.  Lavern farmed on the family farm.

He was drafted into the United States Army in October of 1950.  Lavern served his country honorably until being discharged in 1952.

On November 3, 1962 he was united in marriage to Betty Snaza at St. Joseph Church in Grenville, SD.  The couple lived and farmed east of Clark.  They also had dairy cows until 1976.  Lavern was employed by the Clark School District as a custodian for 13 years and would always say, "Teachers are special and the cooks feed me well".  He also enjoyed the students and once during a concert, in moving the piano, touched the keys, to which an appropriate applause was heard!

On their land is the grave of the "Little Fellow" to which every year he was very gracious allowing the Clark Rotary Club being able to cross the land to the grave and then has also allowed the club to place signage on his acreage by his driveway.  He was very proud of his 9 large evergreen trees that graced the front of his home, for 33 years Lavern and Betty had the trees decorated for Christmas along with many yard ornaments and scenes.

In retirement they traveled many places with their camper.  Those who knew Lavern will long remember his tricks he would play on most anyone, nieces, nephews, own children, grandchildren, and even the priest, Fr. John!  Lavern enjoyed playing Yahtzee, and pinochle.   He also enjoyed time spent with Betty's Monday ladies card group and senior citizens.

He was a longtime member of St. Michael's Catholic Church.

Preceding him in death were his parents, a brother, Charles (Eileen) Kranz, a sister-in-law, Wilma Kranz, a niece, Molly and a nephew David.

Grateful for having shared in his life is his wife Betty of Clark, a son, Michael (Carla) Kranz of Watertown and Mary (Jeff) Nelson of Clark, 8 grandchildren, Jayde, Brittany, Brandy, Justin, Jacob, Kyle, Amanda, and Morgan and 7 great-grandchildren with another due in June.  Also surviving his are brothers, Norb Kranz of Dakota City, NE and Harv (Freda) Kranz of Canby, MN.

The Furness Funeral Home of Clark is serving the family where there is an on-line registry at www.furnessfuneralhome.com