LaVonne Irene Kuelbs, age 89 of New Ulm died peacefully on Friday, July 29, 2022, at the Sleepy Eye Care Center in Sleepy Eye.

Funeral service will be held at 11 am on Wednesday, August 3, 2022, at Christ the King Lutheran Church in New Ulm.  Pastor Timothy Anderson will officiate, and burial will follow in the New Ulm City Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 4-6 pm on Tuesday, August 2, 2022, at the Minnesota Valley Funeral Home-South Chapel in New Ulm.  The visitation will continue from 10-11 am on Wednesday at Christ the King Lutheran Church.

To leave an online condolence for her family, or to sign the guestbook, go to: mvfh.org

LaVonne is survived by her loving husband, Gardell Kuelbs of New Ulm; her sons, Bruce (Shannon McDonald) Kuelbs, Gary (Heidi Hinderman) Kuelbs; her grandchildren, Brandon (Jess) Kuelbs, Jason Kuelbs, Jessica (Gaetano) Cipriano, Rebecca (Chris) Fuller, Joel (Lyndsey) Smith; her great-grandchildren, Elena, Kallin, Aubrey, Kamden, Lily, Lola, Laney; and many other relatives, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her daughter, Julie Ann (Kuelbs) Smith in 2009; her brother, Charles "Chuck" Hesse; her in-laws, Einar and Leona Kuelbs; brother-in-law, Jim Broich; sister-in-law, Mary Anne (Kuelbs) Broich; and special aunts, Charlotte "Lottie" and Elsie Hesse; and special cousins, Warren and Ives Wilson.

LaVonne Irene Hesse was born July 7, 1933, at the Union Hospital in New Ulm to Kurt and Eleanora (Engel) Hesse.  She attended Nicollet Country School District #43, and was a 1951 graduate of New Ulm High School.  She furthered her education at the Minneapolis Business College where she completed her secretarial finishing courses.  Upon graduation, she worked at State Bond and Mortgage Company in New Ulm.  LaVonne was united in marriage to Gardell Kuelbs on April 25, 1957, at the Friedens Evangelical and Reformed Church which later became the United Church of Christ in New Ulm.  The couple then moved to the Kuelbs family farm north and west of Essig where they resided until moving into New Ulm in March of 1989.  While living on the farm, LaVonne loved spending her summers tending to her wonderful vegetable and flower gardens.  LaVonne was a charter member of the Klossner Merry Makers 4-H Club where she enjoyed sewing, needle work, cooking activities, and was also a member of the club's softball team.  She remained in 4-H to age 21 and served as a Junior Leader helping younger members with their projects.  LaVonne was a member of the United Church of Christ in New Ulm where she held many council positions in her lifetime including Treasurer, Financial Secretary, the new-building committee in 1970, and a Sunday School Teacher.  LaVonne also served as the Ladies Aide President where she worked "with the best" in and through the church kitchen over a period of over 70 years.  She enjoyed volunteering at the local Food Shelf since its inception, and later served on the Food Shelf Board for many years through her church.  LaVonne volunteered as a driver for the Meals on Wheels program in New Ulm for 25 years, worked with the CAST Greeting Card Program, and is also a life-time member of the Turner Ladies.  LaVonne felt her best years were the 17 years that she worked at the Christmas Haus and Lambrecht's, greeting, serving, and socializing with the New Ulm Community.  She will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.  Blessed be her memory.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the New Ulm Food Shelf, the Turner Ladies, or the donor's choice.