Laverna Rosina Nowak, 78, of Albert Lea, died on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2014, at Good Samaritan Society in Bancroft Township, Freeborn County. A Mass of Christian burial will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Theodore Catholic Church in Albert Lea. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells and one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday. The Rev. Timothy Reker will officiate and interment will be at a later date. Please see www.brussheitner.com to leave online condolences. Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells is in charge of arrangements.

Laverna Nowak was born on Nov. 5, 1935, in Frankville Township, Winneshiek County, Iowa, the daughter of Felix and Bertha (Wenthold) Ehler. She attended St. Francis de Sales Catholic School in Ossian, Iowa, and after graduation she attended Sisters of St. Francis convent in Dubuque, Iowa. She graduated from St. Marys School of Nursing in Rochester and then worked as a nurse at St. Marys Hospital.

Laverna was united in marriage to Jacob Nowak on Oct. 12, 1963, in Ossian, and was a homemaker and raised four children on a farm near Freeborn. Laverna was a member of St. Casimir Catholic Church and St. Theodore Catholic Church and had a very strong faith. She loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren. Hobbies included baking, gardening and flowers, animals and embroidery. Laverna was proud of her German heritage, was a true Iowan at heart and was a wonderful role model and inspiration. She had a great sense of humor that made her beautiful blue eyes sparkle and will be missed by all.

Laverna is survived by her children Julie (Steve) Stenzel of Wells, Deb (Roy) Gaddis of Solon, Iowa, Terry Nowak of Champlin and Marie (Kevin) Tupy of Burnsville; grandchildren Benjamin, Joshua, Kayla and David Stenzel and Amanda, Rebecca and Marissa Tupy; siblings Ronnie of Ossian and DiAnn Svenson of Decorah, Iowa; and numerous nieces and nephews

She was preceded in death by her parents; Jacob Nowak in 2009; sisters Jeannette (LeRoy) Ihde and Marlene (Irenus) Baumler; sister-in-law, Lorraine Ehler; and brother-in-law, Gary Svenson.