Lavina M. Schmidtknecht, 100, Wabasha
Lavina M. Schmidtknecht, age 100, of Wabasha and formerly of the Alma area, died Tuesday, November 4, 2014 at St. Elizabeth’s Health Care Center in Wabasha. She was born September 7, 1914 in Wabasha, the daughter of William and Anna (Lager) Mars. She graduated from McCahill High School in Lake City and then attended business school in Minneapolis.
She married Wilmer Schmidtknecht September 12, 1939 at St. Felix Catholic Church in Wabasha. They lived in the Alma area. She was a homemaker until her children were raised. She then worked for Winona Knitting Mills and other places of employment. She enjoyed playing cards with her husband and together they raised miniature horses. Wilmer died October 1, 2003. She moved to St. Elizabeth’s Assisted Living Apartments in 2005.
Lavina is survived by two sons, Tom Schmidtknecht, San Francisco, CA, Richard (Susan) Schmidtknecht, Groton, CT; one granddaughter, Jennifer (Jeff) Kent; two great-grandsons, Nathan and Andrew; nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Wilmer, an infant daughter, Ruth Ann, and her sister, Elvira Passe.
A memorial Mass was offered on Saturday, November 8, 2014 at 10:30am at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center Chapel in Wabasha with the Reverend Father James Russell officiating. Interment will be in St. Boniface Catholic Cemetery in Waumandee, WI at a later date. Memorials are preferred to St. Elizabeth’s Health Care Center. The Abbott Funeral Home of Wabasha was in charge of arrangements.
