Laverne Louis Pranke

Sioux City - Laverne Louis Pranke, 90, of Sioux City died Monday, Feb. 18, 2013, in Harlingen, Texas.
Services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Sioux City. The Rev. Armand Bertrand will officiate. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a parish vigil service at 7 p.m., at Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home.
Laverne was born in Sioux City on July 28, 1922, the son of Herman and Margaret (Loubey) Pranke. He was raised in Sioux City and graduated from East High School in 1941 and National Business Training School in 1952 (accounting). He joined the U.S. Army in 1942, serving in the European Theater during World War II. He earned the rank of sergeant and was awarded two Battle Stars, one for the Battle of the Bulge and the other for European operations. He served under Generals Bradley and Patton. After the service, he worked as a railroad mail sorter and later for the U.S. Postal Service, where he worked for 30 years. He also worked in accounting for several firms.
On Dec. 21, 1946, he married Eva Mollet in Mitchell, S.D. She passed away on June 17, 1966 in Sioux City. He then married Rita Finken on May 29, 1970. She passed away on Aug. 11, 1996. On Dec. 5, 1998, he married LaTricia Saunders in Sioux City.
Laverne was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and Morningside Council 5660 of the Knights of Columbus. He was a member of Boys of 68 and the VFW. He enjoyed baseball, softball, bowling and golf (including a hole-in-one in 2004). He was an avid Hawkeyes and Cubs fan. The most important part of Laverne's life was spending time with his wife, children, grandchildren and his extended family. On Oct. 13, 2009, he proudly joined other veterans on a Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. to see the World War II Veterans Memorial.
He is survived by his wife, LaTricia of Sioux City; four children, Becky and Leon Stidfole of Altoona, Iowa, Greg and Julie (Miller) Pranke of Sioux City, Janice Pranke of Minneapolis, and Cheri and Chris Van Schepen of Runnells, Iowa; four grandchildren, Jaimie (Josh), Aaron, Nicole and Austin; two great-grandchildren, Chloe and Cale; stepchildren, Myrna Powers, Jean Wisor, Dale Finken, Mel Finken, Gary Finken, Charlene LeMoine, Dan Finken, Bill Saunders, Bob Saunders and Marie Primm; many stepgrandchildren and great-stepgrandchildren; a brother, Darrell and Frances Pranke of Sioux City; and a sister, Vera and Bill Manley of Akron, Iowa.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two wives; two brothers, Ed and Herman; a sister, Marge; and three stepchildren, Ron Finken, Glen Finken and Michael Saunders.