Laverne E. Wilkinson

FENNIMORE – Laverne Eugene Wilkinson, age 85, of Fennimore, passed away on November 6, 2024, at home under the care of Agrace Hospice for two and a half months. He was born on January 1, 1939, in Mt. Hope Township, the son of Orval and Phoebe (Arnett) Wilkinson. Laverne married Joan Welsh on November 19, 1960, at Sharon, Wisconsin, with whom he had two children: Suzy Marie and Steven Eugene. As a young boy, Laverne grew up on a farm near Mt. Hope until his family relocated to Fennimore in 1957 to the home he currently resides in. He graduated from Fennimore High School in 1956. His was the last class to graduate from the old elementary as 8th graders, the first class to attend all four years in the new high school, and the first class to walk across the stage for graduation at the new municipal building. Vern enlisted in the US Navy and was stationed at Kamiseya in Japan from 1957 to 1959 where he worked as a radio operator Morse Code Interceptor and attained the rank of Petty Officer 2nd Class (E5) in three years. On his return home, Vern found that his parents had built the Fennimore Truck Stop (1958) next to where the Speedy Mart is located, where he then worked. He also worked for the Fennimore Telephone Company, the Whey Factory in Boscobel, and as a foreman at Skyline in Lancaster for 7 years. He has been a lifelong hunter, fisherman, and all-around modern-day mountain man. Vern was employed by the US Postal Service for 21 years. During those years, he served as a City Carrier in Fennimore, a rural carrier in Prairie du Chien and a rural carrier in the Bloomington Post Office where he always maintained that “a bad day at my job as a rural carrier would be a good day at any other job.” Vern was an active member of Fennimore Masonic Lodge # 219 until it merged with the Prairie du Chien Lodge. He was also a lifetime member of the Rural Mail Carriers Guild. Laverne was married to Deborah Kinney-Gornick on August 27, 2001, in Lancaster, Wisconsin.

Laverne is survived by his wife, Deborah (Kinney-Gornick), of Fennimore; son, Steven (Tammy), of Dodgeville, and their children: Kayla, Madysen, Trent; step-son, James (Loni) Gornick, Mukwonago, and their children: Aidan and Tristan; several step-children; step-grandchildren; brother-in-law, Ernie, and his children: Debbie (Rick) Marsano and Dennis (Dawn) Kalb; Stanley (Sue) Klair; Kelly McGrew; and Margo (Patrick) O’Brien.

Laverne was preceded in death by his parents, Orval and Phoebe; daughter, Suzy; and sisters: Arlene and Virginia.

Per Vern’s wishes there will be no visitation or service. Condolences may be sent to Martin Schwartz Funeral Home & Crematory in Lancaster, PO Box 30. Donations in lieu of flowers or money may be made in Lavern’s honor to UW Health Cardiology or Neurosurgery Departments.