Laverne Joseph Bawek, 90, of Austin, Minnesota, died peacefully at his home on Sunday, March 5, 2017, surrounded by family.

Laverne was born Sept. 19, 1926, in rural Rose Creek, Minnesota, to Benjamin and Theresa Koenig (King) Bawek. He moved to a farm northwest of Austin when he was about 13 years old. He served in the U.S. Navy at the end of World War II. He farmed the family farm until the late 1980s. He was active in the Moose Lodge in Austin and enjoyed traveling through the countryside to check the crops. He married Eunice Brown in 1953 and they had seven sons, the late Michael (Diane) of Mapleview, Minnesota, Terry (Sherrie) of Waltham, Minnesota, Stephen (Lori) of Littleton, Colorado, Mark of Austin, Danny of Winona, Minnesota, Jeff (Jane) of Albert Lea, Minnesota, and Richard of Austin.

In addition to his six sons and daughters-in-law, he is survived by brothers, Melvin of Austin, Leo of Tennessee, and Ron of Delaware; sisters, Darlene Reuter of Iowa and Janet Roberts of Austin; 18 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.

Laverne was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Gilbert, Eugene, Robert and Norbert; sisters, Alice Bawek and Lurena “Renee” Haney; and son, Michael L. Bawek.

There will be a Celebration of Life for Laverne at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 8, 2017, at the Ruby Rupner Auditorium at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center, 1304 21st St. NE, in Austin.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed in Laverne’s memory to the National Parkinson Foundation Minnesota.