Lavona Mae Klunker

Lavona Mae Klunker, of Truman, MN, passed away Tuesday, June 18, 2024, at Truman Senior Living. A service will be held at Zaharia Family Funeral Home in Truman on June 29th at 1:00 P.M.

Lavona Mae Eaton was born February 21, 1924, to Raymond and Elvina (Krumrei) Eaton in St. James, Minnesota. She attended school in the St. James area and graduated from St. James School. She was oldest of four children. Her father worked for the railroad and the family settled in Sioux City, Iowa. She met Erich Klunker at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Sioux City, and they were united in marriage on July 1, 1950. Soon after, the couple moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Around 1958, the couple moved back to the Sioux City area and raised their three children. Lavona worked at Haley’s Wholesale, Bostwick’s, and Rosenthal’s. In 1974, the family moved again to Fairmont. She enjoyed playing the organ, visiting with family and friends and redecorating her home. She was an attentive grandma and great grandma and often took her grandchildren and great grandchildren shopping for bargains at the thrift store. Lavona and Erich stayed very active up until their later years.

Lavona was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Truman. She and Erich had 65 years together in marriage before his death in 2016. They enjoyed a long retirement content to be with each other.

Lavona is survived by one daughter, Valerie Goerndt of Fairmont; two sons, Grayling Klunker of North Sioux City, SD, and Tom Klunker and his wife, Cindy, of Lawton, IA; four grandchildren, Paul and his wife, Rachel Kubal of Faribault, Amy Schleininger of New York, Tom Jr. and his wife, Taylor Klunker of Urbandale, IA, and Joshua Klunker of Johnston, IA; five great-grandchildren, Ariel (JP) Bigelow, Cassandra (Jacob) Frickstad, Trevon Winch, Austin Schleininger, and Liliana VanDyke; sister-in-law, Maxine Eaton; and various nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband; her parents; twin sons, Mark and David; great-grandson, Jayden; and her brothers, Bud (Shirley), Jim (Darlene), and Lyle Eaton.