C. LaVerne Hansen, 85, of Tomah, died Sunday, July 7, 2002, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, La Crosse. He was born Nov. 17, 1916, to Charles and Caroline (Peterson) Hansen in rural Camp Douglas, Wis.
He was united in marriage to Helen Sorenson Feb. 18, 1942, at Kahoka, Mo. LaVerne was a U.S. Army Air Corps veteran and served in Africa during World War II. He was a member of the Grassman-Sowle-Larsen-Senz American Legion Post 201. He operated Hansen TV and Appliance Repair and Sales. He owned Hansen's Furniture Store prior to 1972, when he purchased Tomah Realty. In 1986, he sold the real estate business to his daughter Cherry.
He continued to work until his retirement in 1995. LaVerne was a former member of the Tomah Rotary. He was a faithful and active member of the Bible Evangelical Free Church. In his leisure time he enjoyed hunting and fishing and spending time with his family.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Helen of Tomah; a daughter, Cherry Hansen and her husband, Ray Van Kirk of Tomah; three grandchildren, Elizabeth "Beth" (Michael) Finnigan, Andrew C. and Christopher W. Wheaton, all of Tomah; three great-grandchildren, Reece A. Kohn, Kelsie M. Finnigan and Connor E. Finnigan, all of Tomah; a brother-in-law George (Pat) Sorenson of Rice Lake, Wis.; and many other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter Diane, two brothers and a sister.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, July 11, 2002, at 11 a.m. at the Bible Evangelical Free Church, 625 W. Veterans Street, Tomah.
Pastor Timothy J. Erickson will officiate. Burial with military honors by the American Legion Post 201 will be in Cornish-Mills Cemetery in the town of Oakdale.
Relatives and friends are invited to call at the church on Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m. and on Thursday from 10 a.m. until the time of service.
The Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home, Tomah, is assisting the family with arrangements.