LaVerne Moddie

KINGSFORD - LaVerne June Moddie, 73, of 1709 Woodward Ave. Kingsford, died on Thursday, April 2, 2009 at Dickinson County Memorial Hospital. June was born July 3, 1935 at the Twin City Hospital in Negaunee, daughter of the late Joseph and Lulu (Augustson) Ericson. She graduated in 1953 from the Ishpeming High School as the Valedictorian of her class. She also graduated from the Badger Business College in Green Bay and then was employed as a secretary-bookkeeper for John E. Somerville, Architect of Green Bay. She married Anthony J. Moddie of Niagara on May 19, 1956 at which time they moved from Green Bay to Kingsford. In February 1958 she began her career as an employee at the Iron Mountain Veterans Hospital. First as a secretary on the psychiatric ward and later as a medical administrative assistant until her retirement in July 1990. Since her retirement from the Veterans Hospital she has worked part time as a medical transcriptionist for Dr. Daniel Mitchell from 1990 to present. June was a member of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Iron Mountain, Spring Lake Animal Shelter, Ishpeming High School Alumni Assn., National Honor Society and the National Assoc. of Retired Federal Employees. She enjoyed spending her leisure time traveling to Europe with her daughter Cheryl and they visited twenty countries. One of her most memorable trips was to the Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City, Canada. On a trip planned since April 2001, June and her daughter visited New York City with a tour group from Republic Bank a month after the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center Attacks. In her later years she enjoyed spending time staying on Mackinac Island and the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge in Copper Harbor. June and her family loved to vacation at her Lake Emily property in Wisconsin and also at her mother's place on the Escanaba River in Richmond Twp. near Gwinn. She also enjoyed music of all kinds, playing the piano, collecting antiques and jewelry and spoiling her cats. She leaves her daughter, Cheryl Johnson (Rodney Adams) of Kingsford. Grandchildren, Heather Schoen (Matt McKee) and James (Angela) Johnson. Great grandchildren, Lucus Schoen, Emily Anne, Olivia and Deven Johnson all of Kingsford. Cousins, nieces and nephews plus special friends, Marge Balmes, Rosemary and Hap Rondeau of Kingsford and life- long friends Faye Sangala of Ishpeming and June Sangala of Decatur, GA . Also, Phyllis Witcome, a special friend she met in North Somerset, England with whom she has corresponded since her 1981 tour. She also leaves her special cats, Daisy Mae and Ashley Roo (her adopted shelter cats). In addition to her parents, June was preceded in death by her husband, Anthony Moddie in 1974, Stepfather, John Hegman, infant granddaughter, Jessica Hope Johnson and her grandson in law, Todd Schoen. Also by special friends, Alvin Peterson, Jim Balmes, Joan Schettler, Della Finnerty and her cats, the pud (Kim Sing) and Tigger. Private family services will be held. Burial will be in Iron Mountain Cemetery Park. Memorials may be made in her memory to the Spring Lake Animal Shelter. Condolences to the family of LaVerne June Moddie can be expressed online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com. The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon and Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the arrangements.

LaVerne Moddie

April 2, 1936 - April 2, 2009