Lavern L. Wrzenski, 81, of Wolbach, died Thursday, June 17, 2010, at the St. Francis Medical Center in Grand Island.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Greeley. The Revs. Sidney Bruggeman and James Murphy will officiate.
Burial will be in the St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery in Elba.
Visitation will be Sunday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the church, with a 6 p.m. vigil service.
Peters Funeral Home of St. Paul is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Wrzenski was born on Sept. 22, 1928, on a farm north of Elba, the son of Stanley and Nellie (Zielinski) Wrzenski.
He was united in marriage to Louise C. Holtorf on Nov. 30, 1963, at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in St. Paul. She preceded him in death.
He is survived by two daughters and one son-in-law, Arlene Wrzenski of Wolbach and Rhonda Wrzenski and Bruce Anderson of Baldwin City, KS; and a special friend, Emmy Wiese of Grand Island.
As a young boy, Lavern moved with his family to a farm south of Greeley, where he attended District 24 rural school. Upon completing his education he farmed with his family. For several winters, he and his brother David worked at a meat packing plant in Omaha.
He served in the United States Army from Jan. 1951 to June 1951, having been stationed at Fort Eustis, Virginia.
After his marriage to Louise, the couple farmed northwest of Wolbach in Greeley County their entire married life. Mrs. Wrzenski died on June 21, 1994. Lavern continued to farm with his daughter, Arlene until 2005. In August 2005 he moved to Edgewood Vista in Grand Island and in August 2006 until Sept. 2009 he resided at the Golden Living Center in Fullerton. At that time he moved to the Grand Island Veterans Home where he lived the rest of his life.
Lavern was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Greeley.
He enjoyed farming, listening to polka music, dancing, going out for steak suppers, watching the news and reading the newspaper.
In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents; two infant sons, Leon and Larry; an infant daughter, Irene; and three brothers, Clifford, David and Raymond Wrzenski.
Memorials are suggested to the family’s choice.