Home > United States of America > Iowa > Black Hawk County > Waterloo > Orange Township Cemetery > Mrs Vera LaVonne “Vonnie” Gnagy Oliver

Mrs Vera LaVonne “Vonnie” Gnagy Oliver

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Birth	:	19 May 1934 Rich Hill, Bates County, Missouri, USA
Death	:	17 Jun 2019 California, USA
Burial	:	Orange Township Cemetery, Waterloo, Black Hawk County, USA
Coordinate	:	42.4241982, -92.3657990
Description	:	Our Mom, Vera LaVonne Oliver (85), has made her transition and is now in the loving arms of God. She passed peacefully in her sleep on Monday, June 17, 2019. She was diagnosed with a heart condition and the seemingly indefinable COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). LaVonne or Vonnie, as she was known to close family and friends, was born in 1934 to Dillon and Mae (Replogle) Gnagy in Rich Hill, Missouri. Her father was a minister for the Church of the Brethren and in 1938 the family moved to a pastorate in Lindsay, California. ... Read More	Our Mom, Vera LaVonne Oliver (85), has made her transition and is now in the loving arms of God. She passed peacefully in her sleep on Monday, June 17, 2019. She was diagnosed with a heart condition and the seemingly indefinable COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). LaVonne or Vonnie, as she was known to close family and friends, was born in 1934 to Dillon and Mae (Replogle) Gnagy in Rich Hill, Missouri. Her father was a minister for the Church of the Brethren and in 1938 the family moved to a pastorate in Lindsay, California. During World War II the family lived and worked in a Civilian Public Service (CPS) camp for conscientious objectors which her parents directed. During that time she received her education at a one-room schoolhouse. In 1944, the family moved to San Francisco where her father had been called to pastor a developing congregation. The church that was built (in 1946) under his tenure still stands at the corner of 34th Avenue and Noriega Street in San Francisco. The church community was the heart of LaVonne's childhood. The relationships begun there continue to this day. LaVonne attended Lawton Elementary School and graduated from Lincoln High School in January of 1952. In 1961 LaVonne married John Davis at the San Francisco church; the wedding was officiated by her father. They divorced in 1966 and in 1971 LaVonne married a sweetheart from her youth, Joe Oliver. They were together for 21 years; Joe passed away in 2002. As the youngest of five children, LaVonne was responsible for keeping tabs on her mother. Living nearby in South San Francisco allowed her to do that. Her father had passed away in February of 1965 following his seventh(!) heart attack. By this time, LaVonne was a single parent with two daughters, Lauri and Joan. She worked full-time, rotating shifts and depended on her widowed mother to help watch her girls. Her mother lived to the ripe old age of 94. LaVonne worked in a variety of office jobs, and gained specific expertise in payroll and bookkeeping. A family friend was the Western Area Dispatch Manager for United Airlines at the San Francisco Airport. Because he knew LaVonne well and was confident in her abilities, he recommended she apply for a position at United; she worked there for 12 years. Notably, she became the first female crew scheduler for the company. She continued working for various businesses utilizing her payroll and bookkeeping expertise. In 1990 she was offered a job as Office Manager for Reliance Machine Products in Fremont and remained devoted to the company for 27 years. She only left (at age 83) when she could no longer easily travel to and from work. LaVonne was a musician, singer, and organist/pianist. She frequently sang and accompanied church services in her youth. A highlight of her early musical career was accompanying Johnny Mathis while attending San Francisco State University. In later years she continued to serve her church communities as organist, accompanist, and choir director. Her daughters often joined her and they performed as a vocal trio. During the 1990s LaVonne and her daughters were the music team at Unity of Fremont: LaVonne was the pianist, Joan was the choir director, and Lauri was the song leader. LaVonne spent many years participating and serving in Al-Anon. She supported her local chapter, served as a sponsor, and spoke at many conferences. Her hobbies included playing the organ and piano, knitting, crocheting, and she was an avid reader. LaVonne was also a passionate, lifelong NFL and college football fan. As a child, she attended her brother's football games with her father, where he satisfied her endless questions about the game. She loved her San Francisco 49ers and proudly claimed to be 49er Faithful from the very beginning. She was also a technologically up-to-date woman who used an iPhone, an iPad, and a Kindle. In addition to LaVonne's mother and father, her siblings all pre-deceased her: Florine Wise, Eugene Gnagy, Dillon Gnagy, and Nita Hodapp; also, two of Eugene's daughters, Janet and Becky, passed away from cancer. She is survived by her daughter Lauri (Steve) Falabella of Livermore, California, and her two grandsons, Andrew and Nicolas Falabella; her daughter Joan Davis (Dana Bush) of Dublin, California; 13 nieces and nephews living in California, Iowa, Kansas, Texas, and Washington; and Joe Oliver's children and grandchildren. LaVonne's ashes will be interred at Orange Township Cemetery in South Waterloo, Iowa, beside her parents. In loving memory of LaVonne, please join us for a Celebration of her Life and Music on Saturday, August 3, 2019 at 2pm at Asbury United Methodist Church, 4743 East Avenue in Livermore, California. There will be a reception following the service in the Fellowship Hall. The family is so grateful for the exemplary service, care, and support Mom received from Hope Hospice. Should friends desire to make a memorial contribution, we offer the suggestion of a donation in LaVonne's name to: Hope Hospice, 6377 Clark Avenue, Suite 100, Dublin, CA 94568-3024. Source: Grissom's Mortuary

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Mrs Vera LaVonne “Vonnie” Gnagy Oliver's memorial?
Mrs Vera LaVonne “Vonnie” Gnagy Oliver's memorial is located at: Orange Township Cemetery, Waterloo, Black Hawk County, USA.
When did Mrs Vera LaVonne “Vonnie” Gnagy Oliver death?
Mrs Vera LaVonne “Vonnie” Gnagy Oliver death on 17 Jun 2019 in California, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Mrs Vera LaVonne “Vonnie” Gnagy Oliver's memorial?
Latitude: 42.4241982
Longitude: -92.3657990

Family Members:

Parent

Dillon Cecil Gnagy

(1897 - 1965)

Nina Mae Replogle Gnagy

(1897 - 1991)

Spouse

Siblings

Nita Gnagy Hodapp

(1929 - 2007)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Orange Township Cemetery
Waterloo, Black Hawk County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4241982, -92.3657990

2. Mount Olivet Cemetery
Waterloo, Black Hawk County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4594002, -92.3968964

3. Waterloo Memorial Park Cemetery
Waterloo, Black Hawk County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4716988, -92.3833008

4. Waterloo Cemetery
Waterloo, Black Hawk County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4742012, -92.3582993

5. Black Hawk County Cemetery
Evansdale, Black Hawk County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4430200, -92.2931700

6. Elmwood Cemetery
Waterloo, Black Hawk County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4916992, -92.3578033

7. Washburn Cemetery
Washburn, Black Hawk County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4139200, -92.2711700

8. Calvary Cemetery
Waterloo, Black Hawk County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4991989, -92.3660965

9. Pet Haven Cemetery
Cedar Falls, Black Hawk County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4933187, -92.4118539

10. Hudson Cemetery
Hudson, Black Hawk County, USA
Coordinate: 42.3999000, -92.4657200

11. Eagle Township Cemetery
Black Hawk County, USA
Coordinate: 42.3410988, -92.3525009

12. Sons of Jacob Cemetery
Waterloo, Black Hawk County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4839900, -92.2838040

13. Muslim Cemetery
Waterloo, Black Hawk County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4838990, -92.2826380

14. Hillcrest Cemetery
Waterloo, Black Hawk County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4839270, -92.2826670

15. Saint Marys of Mount Carmel Cemetery
Waterloo, Black Hawk County, USA
Coordinate: 42.3418000, -92.3280000

16. Fairview Cemetery
Waterloo, Black Hawk County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5107994, -92.3503036

17. Poyner Cemetery
Gilbertville, Black Hawk County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4435900, -92.2298800

18. Saint Lukes Episcopal Church Columbarium
Cedar Falls, Black Hawk County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5153600, -92.4307200

19. Cedar Valley Cemetery
Hudson, Black Hawk County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4166444, -92.5057391

20. Saint Mary's Cemetery
Gilbertville, Black Hawk County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4188300, -92.2181200

21. Sancta Maria Cemetery
Gilbertville, Black Hawk County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4132560, -92.2060940

22. Saint Josephs Cemetery
Raymond, Black Hawk County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4684150, -92.2136660

23. Zion Lutheran Cemetery
Hudson, Black Hawk County, USA
Coordinate: 42.4279100, -92.5292000

24. Fairview Cemetery
Cedar Falls, Black Hawk County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5261002, -92.4602966