LaVerne Elsie (West) Kordon

LaVerne Kordon, 87, of Sister Bay, WI, passed away peacefully at Serenity Springs Senior Living Center on December 8, 2025.

She was born LaVerne Elsie West in Washington, D.C. on July 12, 1938, and grew up in and graduated from High School in Racine, WI.  She met Marquette University Dental School student Jon Alfred Kordon, and they were married on March 17, 1962. After graduation, Jon enlisted in the U.S. Army Dental Corps and he and LaVerne were stationed at Fort Gordon Army Base in Augusta, GA.  As their service period came to an end, a group of community leaders in Sister Bay approached them to be part of the new clinic that was opening in town.  They agreed to take the position temporarily but never left. LaVerne and Jon raised their four sons in Sister Bay and Ephraim and were lifelong members of First Baptist Church of Sister Bay.   

In addition to their involvement in many church and community causes and activities, LaVerne and Jon created a home that not only became a second home to many of their sons’ friends, but often to other folks in the community who needed a place to go.  They were also hosts to several foreign exchange students at Gibraltar High School. LaVerne was involved in many of her sons’ activities growing up, from Cub Scouts to high school sports and music, and was also very active in the lives of her six grandsons both locally and when they lived far away.   

LaVerne and Jon made multiple trips over several years with a group of Midwest dentists to work in a Rotary Club sponsored dental clinic in rural Jamaica and maintained friendships with many of the people they met there.  LaVerne also took part in mission trips from her church to Ukraine. In their later years LaVerne and Jon enjoyed traveling around the country, including many winter months in Florida, and several trips to Europe with visits to family in Sweden.  Up until a few years ago, LaVerne provided companionship and assistance to several Scandia Village residents. She was an avid reader and knitter and loved watching virtually any sports on TV.

LaVerne was preceded in death by her husband Jon in 2010. 

She is survived by her sons Peter, Eric (Debbie), Paul (Juli), and Andrew (Jenny), her grandsons Sam, Jacob, Max, Lucas, Jon and Sten, her first great-grandson Jameson, her sister Bonnie Vanderwarn, and several nieces, nephews and cousins.   

Memorial services for LaVerne will be held on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, at noon at the First Baptist Church, 2622 S. Bay Shore Dr., Sister Bay WI 54234, with Pastor Dr. Mark Billington officiating. Visitation will be held at church from 10:30 a.m. until 11:45 a.m.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to First Baptist Church or The Salvation Army of Door County PO Box 644, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235.

Casperson Funeral Home in Sister Bay is assisting the Kordon family. Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of LaVerne may be shared with her family through her tribute page at www.CaspersonFuneralHome.com.

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