Lavearl Waterman, 85, of Hillcrest Care Center in Sumner passed away Sunday November 3, 2019 at Unity Point-Allen Memorial Hospital in Waterloo.  Visitation will be from 9:30-11:30 AM on Friday November 8, 2019 at the Geilenfeld-Buehner Funeral Home in Oelwein.  Memorial services will then begin at 11:30 AM.  Inurnment will be in Woodlawn Cemetery at Oelwein.  A memorial fund has been established.

Lavearl Maxine Waterman was born August 31, 1934 in Glen, NE to parents John and Florence (Septer) Lockard.  She attended country school in the Garnavillo/Guttenberg area and then at the Wadena School.  She was baptized at the Church Of Christ in Arlington.  In 1950 she was united in marriage with Kenneth Gusta at the Church Of Christ in Arlington and they later divorced.  On April 9, 1953 she was united in marriage with Orville Waterman in Arlington.  Lavearl had been employed with Modern Cleaners in Oelwein.  Her and Orville owned and operated H&W Motor Express Delivery and Iowa Parcel Delivery.

Lavearl loved to go camping and fishing. She spent countless hours listening to country music, namely Alan Jackson and Johnny Cash, who she had the pleasure of meeting once upon a time. Lavearl enjoyed going dancing and often shared many memories of the time spent at the Coliseum in Oelwein. Lavearl loved playing poker and rummy, which she always took time to teach her children. She enjoyed going to coffee, lunch, and shopping with her dear friend, Barb. Helping her friend, Marge, put puzzles together was another favorite activity. She absolutely adored her family and loved spending time with them. Most dear to her heart were her grandchildren and great- grandchildren. Making people smile and laugh came naturally to her. Lavearl brought joy to every life she touched, and that is how she will be remembered.

Left to celebrate Lavearl’s life are her children: Lisa (Jeff) Smith of Sumner, Troy Waterman of Moline, IL, and Leonard Waterman of Mesa, AZ; her five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; her sisters: Judy (Ronald) Cue of Oelwein and Delores Crawford of Arlington.

She was preceded in death by her husband Orville; her son Rick Waterman; her parents; her siblings: Virginia Kane-Wilson, Nels Lockard and Willy Lockard; her first husband Kenneth Gusta; her special friend Byron Munk.