Lake Forest Obituary: LaVonne Marie Rommel Berg

The following obituary is courtesy of Wenban Funeral Home.

LaVonne Marie Rommel Berg

September 17, 1947 – December 2, 2015

On December 2, 2015, LaVonne Marie Rommel Berg passed away at the home of her son in Savannah, GA. She was 68.

To know LaVonne was to know her infectious laugh, her generous spirit, and her boundless love for family and friends. Through God’s grace, she touched the lives of so many, and would have adopted the entire world if it were possible. Perhaps most of all, LaVonne was an original: She didn’t march to the beat of her own drum; she had an entire marching band and dance ensemble. LaVonne lived life on her terms -- a trait that her friends and family admired most about her.

Since her days riding horses on the Iowa farm of her childhood, LaVonne pursued adventure and travel with a restless spirit. A passionate scuba diver, she fearlessly swam with sharks; a notorious dancer, her moves could be seen (and never unseen) in the kitchen, in a car, and in the middle of a restaurant. She loved the desert, the color pink, a great book, Shakespeare, a Turner Classic movie, musicals, flowers, a good Pinot Noir, belly laughs, Elvis, classic country music, rock & roll, all things Disney, and great Italian food. More than anything, she loved her family and was overjoyed by her grandchildren.

Born in Iowa Falls, IA, to Ramah Gatliff and Lester Rommel, LaVonne graduated from Iowa Falls High School before attending college at North Texas State. She moved to Chicago and worked as a first-class flight attendant for American Airlines, a job (and adventure) that she loved dearly and always recalled with such zest. She finally settled down in Lake Forest, IL, with her husband of 43 years, Theodore (Jack) F. Berg Jr., to raise her family.

In addition to Jack, LaVonne is survived by her son Blake Rommel Berg, daughter Melissa Berg Taylor, daughter-in-law Sarah Anne Ummel Berg, son-in-law Matthew Fischer Taylor, brothers Jon and Ryan Rommel, and her five beloved grandchildren: Henry Theodore Berg, Katherine Eloise Berg, Charles Stephen Berg, Avery Caroline Taylor and Ellis Rommel Taylor. She was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Merry and Peggy, and brothers Monty “Bud” and Chester.

A service will be held at 11:00AM on Friday, Dec. 11th at Faith Lutheran Church, located at 680 W. Deerpath Road, Lake Forest, IL. Donations can be made in her honor to The University of Chicago Cancer Research Foundation.