LaVonne Woodka, 88, of West Point, died Monday, December 15, 2025 at Oakland Heights.  Funeral service will be 11:00am on Saturday, December 27 at St. Paul Lutheran Church with Rev. John Gierke officiating.  The funeral will be live streamed on the Stokely Funeral Home Facebook page at facebook.com/stokelyfuneralhome. Lunch will follow at the church hall.  Burial will be before the service at 10:00am at Mount Hope Cemetery.  Visitation will be Friday, December 26 from 3:00pm to 6:00pm with family present from 5:00pm to 6:00pm on at Stokely Funeral Home.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church.  Arrangements by Stokely Funeral Home.

LaVonne Fae Woodka was born on April 5, 1937, in Beemer, NE, to Hugo and Elsie (Albers) Wisch.  She was baptized at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Wisner on May 2, 1937.  The family moved to a farm in Southeast Cuming County in 1942. There she spent her childhood attending a small country school (District 69) and helping with chores around the farm.  The family joined St. Paul Lutheran Church in West Point where LaVonne was confirmed on April 2, 1950.  LaVonne attended Oakland Public Schools graduating in 1954 and pursued her education at Wayne State College.

She worked at Holmquist Grain and Lumber before her marriage to Cecil Woodka on August 9, 1959, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in West Point.  The couple remained in West Point, raising their family and contributing to the life of the community and their church. She served on various church committees, held several offices, taught Sunday School, served on the Flower Committee, and was an active member of the Ladies’ Aid. LaVonne was adept with numbers and organizational skills, which led to her employment as bookkeeper for the West Point Living Center for 30 years.

She also enjoyed many aspects of God’s creation including adventurous pleasures like traveling and simple pleasures like gardening. Her green thumb was evident each year as her gardens came to life. She enjoyed canning the produce from her garden and sharing the beauty of her flower garden with family and friends. Sewing, needlework and bird watching were favorite pastimes.  LaVonne loved spending time with family, treasuring visits from her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren who brought so much joy to her life.

LaVonne’s faith played a central role in her life. She has held tightly to that faith through the challenges she encountered throughout her life leaning on her confirmation verse: Proverbs 3:5-6

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”

Her love and support of her church, her family, and her community will be remembered by many.

LaVonne is survived by her daughter, Dawn (Joel) Lubker; son, Clay Woodka; grandchildren, Max (Nichole) Lubker, Jasmine (David) Holmes; great-grandchildren, Colton Howard, Logan and Liam Lubker, Jaxen and Maverick Holmes; sister, Melva Soderland; and extended family.

LaVonne is preceded in death by her husband, Cecil on September 14, 2025, and her parents, Hugo and Elsie.