Lavada K. Graening

LaVada Kathryn Graening, 97, formerly of Trowbridge and Northwood, died, surrounded by her loving family at the Perrysburg home of her daughter and son-in-law, on October 4, 2013. She was born to John and Adelia Meyer Blecke on July 3, 1916, in Luckey, Ohio. LaVada lived her life in service to others. She attended Luckey Elementary School and was valedictorian at Pemberville High School in 1934. She delayed her planned career as a nurse or teacher to help her parents on the family farm and as a care-giver to other neighbors in need. In 1939 she began working as a nurse aide at the Luther Home of Mercy. In 1941 she studied cosmetology at Warner Beauty College, then worked for four years as a beautician in Toledo. She met her husband Carleton while working at the Luther Home. They were married June 17, 1945, and together operated the Graenings Grocery and Hardware Store in Trowbridge, Ohio, for 26 years. She returned to the Luther Home and was chosen nurse aide of the year in 1983. After her retirement at age 70, she volunteered at the Home. LaVada was known for her kind and encouraging letters and notes to family and friends, many drawn from recollections in the journals she kept from the 1930s through the rest of her life. She always had the words and ways to make each member of her family, each child, grandchild and great grandchild know that they were special. She was an active member and matriarch of St Peter Lutheran Church in Martin Blackberry, where she was a teacher, pianist, quilter, and member of Sarah Circle. She was preceded in death by her husband, Carleton, brother, Aldon Blecke and sister, Doris Hansen. She is survived by son, Alan Cecile Graening, daughters, Faye John Jaeger, LeAnne Charles Jaeger; 11 grandchildren: Alex, Craig and Carly Graening Joe Andenoro, Eve Rob Kozenko, Lisa Chris Bernheisel, Theresa and Andrea Jaeger, Sara Jeff Johnson, David Becky, Kate Joe Robitaille, and Sam Amber Jaeger; and 17 great grandchildren. Visitation will be at Robinson-Walker Funeral Home Crematory in Genoa, Ohio, from 3-8 p.m., Monday, October 7, 2013. Additional visitation will be from10-11 a.m., Tuesday, October 8, 2013, at St Peter Lutheran Church, 17877 W. St. Rt. 579, Martin Blackberry, Ohio 43445; the funeral service will follow at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be in Elliston Cemetery, Graytown, with a luncheon to follow in the churchs fellowship hall. Donations may be made to St Peter Lutheran Church, Martin, Blackberry Ohio, or the Luther Home of Mercy, 5810 N. Main St., P.O. Box 187, Williston, OH 43468; www.lutherhome.org.