Laverne Howard Shimanek, 88, peacefully passed on to His Savior Jesus, on May 11, 2022, at UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, California. His devotion to family and expressive faith in God were the hallmarks of his last days.
Laverne was born to Henry and Daisy Shimanek in Scio, Oregon, on May 26, 1933. After graduating from Scio High School, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corp, achieving the rank of Sergeant. In 1954, after suffering injuries during military duties, Laverne met the love of his life as a patient at Oregon State Health and Science Hospital in Portland, Oregon. He married Betty Gale Kizer on August 14, 1954, in Klamath Falls, Oregon. They were blessed with a loving family and enduring friendships.
He used his creative managing skills along with Betty’s nursing talents to fulfill their life-long work of building medical facilities, administering innovative health care practices, and serving communities in Oregon and Alaska. In his latter years Laverne earned a Doctorate of Ministry and conducted Biblical and counseling services to other patients at care facilities where he resided.
“Papa Verne” is dearly missed by his loved ones. He is survived by his sister and brother-in-law Joanne and Darrell Johnston, of Newport News, Virginia; his brother Harvey Shimanek of Scio, Oregon; his brother-in-law and wife James and Della Kizer of Huntsville, Alabama; his son and daughter-in-law Grant and Gertrude Shimanek of Anchorage, Alaska; his daughter Susie Boedecker of Fair Oaks, California; his daughter Lorena Shimanek-Allen of Tularosa, New Mexico; his adopted grandson and daughter-in-law Loren and Candice Shimanek of Takoma Park, Maryland; his grandson and partner Zachary Boedecker and Helen Medina of San Francisco, California; his grandson and wife Wade and Arlene Shimanek of Anchorage, Alaska; his granddaughter and husband Larissa and James McCarthy of Anchorage, Alaska; his granddaughter Stephanie Reese of Albuquerque, New Mexico; his granddaughter Charmaine Shimanek of Anchorage, Alaska; his granddaughter Tania Shimanek of La Luz, New Mexico; his grandson and wife Ethan and Carmina Shimanek of Houston, Texas; along with 16 great grandchildren, nieces and nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents Henry and Daisy Shimanek, his wife Betty Shimanek, and his sister-in-law Celia Shimanek.
Services for Laverne will be conducted in the near future with his ashes being spread at the Shimanek Bridge in Scio, Oregon, and internment with his wife Betty in the National Cemetery at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. For more information contact his son, the Rev. Grant Shimanek, at [email protected].
