LaVera Adeline (Kitten) Strecker, age 94, passed away September 25, 2020, at Manor of the Plains, Dodge City, Kansas.
LaVera was born November 12, 1925 at Lawrence, Nebraska to Alvin and Mary (Himmelberg) Kitten. The family moved Stratton, Colorado in the spring of 1929. LaVera grew up on the family farm and attended Stratton Schools. After graduating from high school, LaVera went to work at JC Penny’s. While at a dance she met Ignatius Strecker. After a short courtship they were married at the St Charles Catholic Church in Stratton on November 26, 1946. They started their farming life in Ness City, Kansas and later moved to Spearville where they spent the remainder of their 61year marriage.
LaVera was a member of St John the Baptist Catholic Church and Daughters of Isabella both in Spearville. She loved playing cards and will long be remembered by her family for her spud-nuts, pies, and fried chicken. She enjoyed crocheting afghans for her grandchildren and made many quilts over the years.
They had nine children. Joe and wife Jana, Concordia, Kansas, Ron and wife Karan, Leland, North Carolina, Henry and wife Deb, Dodge City, Melvin and wife Linda, Spearville, Rita Miller and husband Chris, Newton, Kansas, Bev Stein and husband Gary, Dodge City and Theresa Stegman and husband Reg, Spearville. She is also survived by 22 grandchildren, many great grandchildren and great great grandchildren, her daughter-in-law Sharon Strecker, Stringtown, Oklahoma and her sister, Iona Gearhart, Illinois.
She preceded in death by her parents, her loving husband, Ignatius on July 1, 2014, an infant son, John, a son, Ken, 2 brothers, Vince and Harold Kitten and a sister, Laurine Schiferl.
Vigil service followed by Daughters of Isabella rosary will be at 7:00 pm Monday, September 28, 2020 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Spearville. Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 am Tuesday at the church with Fr. Ted Stoecklein presiding. The service will be viewable via Facebook live at www.facebook.com/ziegler.chapel/. Burial will follow in St. John Cemetery, Spearville. Visitation will be Monday from noon to 4:00 pm at Ziegler Funeral Chapel, Dodge City.
The family suggests memorials to Arrowhead West or the Cancer Center of Kansas both in care of Ziegler Funeral Chapel, 1901 N. 14th Ave., Dodge City, Kansas 67801.