Lavona C. Dittmer

Lavona Cornelia Schroeder Dittmer was born on January 6, 1925, on the family farm in Davis Township just north of Concordia, Missouri. Her parents were Ralph August Schroeder and Eleanora Bredehoeft Schroeder. She was the oldest of 4 children. She had one sister Elberta Schroeder Lorenz and two brothers Roland and Roger Schroeder. She grew up on the farm and was baptized and confirmed at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Flora and attended the Lutheran grade school there.  She graduated from Concordia High School where she met the one true love of her life George “Eddie” Dittmer.

In 1946 she rode the train to San Diego to marry George who was stationed there in the Navy. They eventually settled in Kansas City where they raised their three children Terry, Sharon, and Diane. She was employed as a bookkeeper and a secretary during her work career. Throughout her life she was active in volunteer activities with the PTA, Voter Registration, being an election judge, Powell Gardens, and her churches. She was talented and creative, painting pictures, quilting, embroidery, crocheting, sewing all our clothes, and making banners for the church to name a few. She and George traveled all over the United States, sold their homemade crafts in Branson and St. Charles, Missouri, and spent the cold winter months in the Southwest U.S. especially Arizona. They enjoyed a variety of cruises and traveled to Germany to trace the roots of their German grandparents.

She was deeply committed to her Lutheran faith and was very active in her church where she participated in LWML, Ruth Circle, Pairs and Spares, and Bible study. She loved visiting with people, was always looking for news, and talking on the phone. She loved her gardens, feeding the birds, telling stories and a good glass of wine. She was the strongest woman we ever knew. She loved her life and found a way to work around any challenges that came her way. When her latest health issues were unsolvable, she said “I want to go home”. On July 24, 2023, at the age of 98, she took the Lord’s hand, departed this life, and went home. Her confirmation verse was Revelation 2:10 “Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life.” 

Lavona was a beloved wife and mother, grandmother, and trusted friend. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of sixty years, her parents, sister, and brothers.  She is survived by her three children, 9 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren.

Services will be held Monday July 31, at Timothy Lutheran Church, 425 NW RD Mize Road in Blue Springs, MO. Visitation will be from 10-11 AM at the church, funeral service from 11AM-12PM. Burial at Park Lawn Cemetery at 1:30PM.

Memorial contributions can be made to the LWML chapter at Timothy Lutheran Church or Powell Gardens.