I had the pleasure to work alongside Grandma LaVerne for many many years at Pleasantview KiDSTOP. She would come in everyday with a huge smile on her face and ready to help the children! She was an amazing person and terrific volunteer. She would always find and support that child who needed that little extra help or find that child who needed that little extra attention. I’m very saddened by the news of her passing. Grandma LaVerne had the biggest heart and helped many children over the years!
LaVerne M. Justin
January 21, 1934 – October 20, 2024
LaVerne M. Justin – Obituary In her own words. (Family edits)
LaVerne Margaret Zenner was born on January 21, 1934, in Buckman, MN to Alois and Regina (Hurrle) Zenner. She started 1st grade in a one room schoolhouse in Buckman. She later started 2nd grade at St. Michael’s School in Buckman. In the 3rd grade, the family quit farming and moved to St. Cloud. There she attended St. Mary’s Grade School and Cathedral High School. Followed by Nursing School in Rochester. LaVerne worked for 25 years at the St. Cloud Hospital. She married Jim Justin at St. Mary’s church in St. Cloud. They cherished their 5 children Joel, Patrick, Mike, Joleen and Jimmy Justin Jr.
She watched all the games that Joel, Patrick, Mike and Jimmy played. As they actively played Football, Hockey, Basketball, Baseball and Wrestling. She also watched all the games Joleen actively played Softball and Basketball. Joel, Patrick Mike, Joleen and Jimmy also played in the Marching Band at Cathedral High School and participated in all the travels of the band. In the 2nd grade Patrick played a part in “Music Man” in the Cathedral High School play. This was special.
After retiring from the St. Cloud Hospital (first assignment was the Polio ward), LaVerne became a Foster Grandparent working for over 25 years at KidStop in Sauk Rapids at Pleasantview Grade School (over 30,000 hours).
She is preceded in death by her parents, Regina and Alois, her brothers Wilfred ‘Bill’ and wife Rose and Lambert ‘Larry’, her sister Doreen Jacobson and husband John and former husband James ‘Jim’.
She is survived by her five children, Joel and Karin (Bute), Patrick and Pamela Kennedy, Mike and Judy (Wambui Ford), Joleen and Bruce Slinden, Jimmy Jr. and her sister-in-law Virgie Zenner. Plus her 9 grandkids and 6 great-grandchildren and thousands of KidStop kids, whose lives she deeply touched.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. on Friday, November 8, 2024, at St. Mary’s Cathedral upper church. Fr. Scott Pogatchnik will officiate. Visitation will begin after 9:30 a.m. on Friday at the church and a luncheon will follow the Mass. A private family burial will take place at Assumption Cemetery in St. Cloud.
Guestbook
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this time. Your mom was such a caring person who loved being a Foster Grandparent. She will be missed by many! Rest in peace, Laverne.
‘Grandma’ was more than a volunteer in her community. She clearly spent her life serving others and touched the lives of so many. I was honored to know her in her last few years and I’m so glad I met such a lovely human whom we can all learn so much from.
My deepest sympathy to the family. I worked nights with ‘Justin’ in the late 1970s on old 5North at the hospital. She was a hard worker and lots of fun to work with. I will always remember her for the night a new surgical patient coughed his trach out and I anxiously informed her and she told me ‘well put it back in.’ She then proceeded to show me how as I was a young new RN. She worked circles around others and when our shift was over in the morning I could go home knowing everything was done well because Justin did a thorough job and nothing was ever missed. Again my sympathy to her family
Services
Schedule Details
Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. on Friday, November 8, 2024, at St. Mary’s Cathedral upper church. Fr. Scott Pogatchnik will officiate.
Visitation will begin after 9:30 a.m. on Friday at the church and a luncheon will follow the Mass. A private family burial will take place at Assumption Cemetery in St. Cloud.