Laverne (Krause) Drover

Laverne (Krause) Drover, age 95, of Redgranite, formerly of Neshkoro, went home to be with the Lord at ThedaCare Medical Center in Neenah on Thursday evening, May 16th, following a brief illness. Laverne was born on July 3rd, 1928, near Germania, Wisconsin, the second child of Edward and Lydia (Kentzel) Oelke. She frequently spoke of farm life as a child, which included Sunday family gatherings and time spent playing with cousins.

Laverne initially spoke German, learning English to attend a nearby one-room schoolhouse. She later attended school in Neshkoro. Laverne graduated from Omro High School in 1947, after her family moved to the Waukau area. Meeting Arden Krause at a Pickett dance hall in 1947, brought love to her life. She and Arden married that summer and made their home on the family dairy farm near Spring Lake. Their union was blessed with four children. Laverne worked hard, actively assisting with the daily milking of cows and gathering of eggs from the chicken coop. Arden passed away unexpectedly in 1977, after retiring from farming. Laverne found love a second time when she met Dennis Drover, whom she married in 1981. Dennis passed away in 1995.

As a faithful servant of God, Laverne was a life-long member of Zion Lutheran Church in Neshkoro, where she attended Bible Study and was active in LWML. She also served on the Board of Directors and volunteered for many years at the Second Time Around Shop in Berlin, and she was a member of the Spring Lake area Homemakers group.

Always devoted to her family, Laverne was an excellent cook, providing abundant meals three times per day made from farm-fresh ingredients, including from her large vegetable garden. Laverne read the newspaper daily and embraced novels. She enjoyed traveling within the U.S. and Canada into her 80’s. She loved many types of music, with polka music holding a special place in her heart. Laverne was humble, generous, cheerful, and quietly strong as she faced life’s challenges.

Those left to cherish Laverne’s memory are her son and daughter-in-law, David and Bonnie Krause of Oshkosh, daughter, Deborah Krause, of rural Neshkoro; grandchildren, Jake (Jennifer) Krause, Sarah (Teddy Butler) Krause; Abbott Bowden, Dashiell Bowden; great-grandchildren, Jackson, Jagger, Josie, Vivienne; step-daughter, Cheryl Sobieski; step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren; other relatives and friends.

Laverne was preceded in death by her parents; siblings, Ewald, Paul, Evelyn, Hilbert; husbands, Arden Krause and Dennis Drover; daughter and son-in-law, Donna and Rick Julien (in 2020); son, Daniel Krause (in 2021); son-in-law, Craig Bowden (in 2022).

A funeral service for Laverne (Krause) Drover will take place on Friday, May 24, at 11:00 a.m., with visitation beginning at 9:30 a.m., at Zion Lutheran Church, 227 North State St. in Neshkoro. Rev. John Trewyn will conduct the service. Burial will take place in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery in Neshkoro following the service. Please visit our website www.wachholzandsons.com to send a condolence or to share a memory of Laverne with her family.

The family would like to express a heartfelt thank you to the dedicated and caring staff at Preston Place in Redgranite, where Laverne resided for the past two years.

Wachholz and Sons Funeral Home

Sunset Cremation Center in Princeton

Serving the Family, 920-295-6631

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