LaVern G. Prinsen, 93, of Sheboygan Falls and formerly of Cedar
Grove, passed away on Saturday, March 31, 2018, at Pine Haven Christian Home.
LaVern was born on February 28, 1925, in the Town of
Holland, son of Elmer and Mildred (DuMez) Prinsen. He attended Maple Grove Elementary School
growing up and graduated from Cedar Grove High School. After several years working he was inspired
to attend the Sheboygan County Teacher’s College where he met his wife to be,
Marion. He then taught at River Valley,
Hingham, and Cedar Grove Grade Schools.
During this time, he received a bachelor’s degree from UW-Oshkosh and
later a master’s degree from UW-Milwaukee.
LaVern was an elementary principal in the Cedar Grove-Belgium Schools
for 21 years. After retirement he spent
13 winters volunteering at Southern Normal School in Alabama, including one
year as a full-time staff member.
LaVern is a lifetime member of First Reformed Church of
Cedar Grove. Over the years he taught
Sunday school, was a deacon and an elder, Sunday school superintendent, and
cooked for First Family Night. He also
served several years as director for the senior dining program at the church.
Above all, LaVern loved kids and to make them laugh or smile
– from the thousands he taught and worked for in his 35 years in education, to
his own grand and great-grandchildren, and the ones he saw in church on Sunday
mornings. After retiring, LaVern honed
his cooking, baking, and cake decorating skills which he used to make
prize-winning pies, and a few wedding cakes, and scenes with frosting
figures. He was always up for talking, playing
cards, puzzles, or just enjoying the birds, chipmunks, or other wildlife at his
country home and gardens of 60 years.
LaVern is survived by his wife of 67 years, Marion; his
three sons, Gale (Pam) Prinsen of Beaver Dam, Jan Prinsen of Newburgh, IN, and Lee (Rondell)
Prinsen of Sheboygan; six grandchildren, Ben (Lauren) Prinsen, Adam Prinsen,
Andy (Katelyn) Prinsen, Phillip (Fiancé
Kendall) Prinsen, Matthew (Krystal) Prinsen, and Megan (Marcus) Ninneman; five
great-grandchildren, Parker and Payton Ninneman, Mason and Grace Prinsen, and
Adalai Prinsen; three sisters, Shirley Hoitink of Cedar Grove, Carla (Russell)
Stahl of Elk Grove Village, IL, and Phyllis Melzer of Bloomington, IL; two
sisters-in-law, Donna Prinsen of Cedar Grove and Caroline (Ronald) Doersch of
Madison; and two brothers-in-law, Jerry (Karen) Franz of Poynette and Henry
Knoener of Elkhart Lake; and many nieces and nephews.
LaVern was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters,
Lenore (Robert) Meinen and Doris (Robert) Soerens, his brother, Glenn Prinsen,
two brothers-in-law, John Hoitink and Al Melzer, and daughter-in-law, Julie
Prinsen.
Funeral services to celebrate LaVern’s life will be held at 10:30
am on Friday, April 6, 2018, at First Reformed Church in Cedar Grove with
Rev. Chris Schaefer officiating. Burial will take place at Cedar Grove
Cemetery.
Family and friends may gather at the church on Thursday,
April 5, 2018, from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm and on Friday from 9:30 am until the
time of the service at 10:30 am.
A memorial fund has been established in LaVern’s name for
First Reformed Church in Cedar Grove, to be used for youth ministries.
For online condolences and additional information please
visit
www.wenigfh.com
The staff of the Wenig Funeral Home in Oostburg
(920-564-2771) is assisting LaVern’s family with arrangements.
