LaVerne graduated from Ravenswood Hospital School of Nursing, Chicago, IL, in 1945. She joined the United Sates Army Air Force Nurse Corps and served as a Frist Lieutenant at the 28th AAF base unit. She had basic training at Camp McCoy and cared for Japanese prisoners. She was one of 14 nurses to volunteer to fight the polio epidemic in Rockford, IL. LaVerne met General Eisenhower and ultimately met the love of her life, Earl Bollman, a patient of hers wounded overseas. He eventually became her husband and father of her five children. After Earl’s death, she continued as a member of his 26th Armored Division.
LaVerne was a staff nurse at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Belleville, IL, for two years and at Belleville Memorial Hospital, specializing in Med-Surge and ICU, for 27 years. Following her official retirement, she volunteered for Hospice of Southern Illinois for 30 years.
LaVerne was a longtime member of The Queenship of Our Lady, Catholic Holy Family, and Belleville Seniors. She has belonged to St. Augustine Catholic Church since its beginning and was loved and cared for by Father Bill and the good people there, once she became home bound.
She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 28 years, Henry J. Moll, whom she married on December 30, 1976, and who died on April 14, 2005; her son, Steven J. Bollman; her parents, Eric and Hattie, nee Korleski, Leischner; four siblings, Sylvia, Ralph, Leonard, and Terrance; and her first husband, Earl Bollman who died on July 11, 1970.
She is survived by her four children, Carol Zeil, Michael Bollman, Marcia Phillips, and Susan (Rick) Perez; six stepchildren, Gregory Moll, Roger Moll, Janet (Doug) Flanders, Vickie (Scott) Hodgedon, Tina Cole, and Laurie (Keith) Johnson, who were always in her heart; two former daughters-in-law, Linda Walker and Dava Batbayer; 17 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; 5 great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
She would like to recognize some special people she valued as her best friends, Rosemary Davis, Michael and Debbie Clover, Chuck and Pam Stout, and Pat Gundlach, her beautician, Jeanette Surmeier, Marybeth Onstatt, and her Godson, Dave Renner.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Augustine of Canterbury School Fund, or to Hospice of Southern Illinois, or to the charity of the donor’s choice. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.
Visitation: Friends may visit from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, August 19, 2023, at St. Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Church, Belleville, IL.
Funeral: A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, August 19, 2023, at St. Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Church, Belleville, IL, with Msgr. William McGhee officiating.