LaVera A. Warzak, the last of a generation of Daums, passed away peacefully at the age of 93 on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020, in Crawfordsville.
She was born Nov. 28, 1926, at Nashville, Illinois, in her grandmother’s home to Miriam (Pair) and John Nicholas Albert Daum. She grew up in Centralia, Illinois, living in the home built by her grandfather, John Henry Daum. After graduating from high school in 1944, she moved to Chicago to work for the U.S. Treasury Department. There she met her future husband, Frank Joseph Warzak Jr. They were married June 16, 1951, at Evanston, Illinois. Frank and LaVera first lived in Chicago, followed by Rochester (New York), Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Barrington, Illinois. While living in Barrington, she often helped out with Frank’s business, FJW Optical Systems. Leading up to and following retirement, they also maintained residences in Singapore, Vail, Colorado and Bonita Springs, Florida.
LaVera and Frank were married 64 years until Frank’s death on Oct. 1, 2015. LaVera pursued a lifelong interest in travelling that was instilled in her by her father, who the family accompanied in his Model A Ford during his travels to each of Illinois’s 102 county seats and many U.S. state capitols. Together with Frank she visited all 50 capitols, after which they set their sights on traveling to as many countries as possible. They visited over 135 countries and all seven continents. She maintained that no one country stood out. Her favorite destination was Antarctica.
Throughout her life LaVera’s principal passion was playing bridge. Originally taught by Frank, her skills and proficiency quickly surpassed his. Wherever they moved, she was always a much sought-after bridge partner — up until COVID-19 restrictions closed down all in-person bridge playing. She had been working on obtaining her Gold Life Master status.
LaVera was preceded in death by her husband Frank;three younger brothers, John LaVern Daum, Glen Allen Daum and Michael Jay Peerce; and sister-in-law Rachael Daum.
She is survived by son Barry (Anastasia) Warzak; daughter Jean (Ron) Kyle; grandchildren, Denise Warzak, Douglas Warzak, Kristopher Kyle, Kevin (Cassie) Kyle and Kelly (Adam) Kidd; great-grandchildren, Nash Kyle and Haisley Kyle; sister-in-law Emma Daum; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
LaVera chose to be cremated, with burial and services to be held at Evergreen Cemetery in Barrington, Illinois, on a later date.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the JDRF.
