Laverne Dinkel

Laverne Dinkel, 79, of Topeka, died December 5, 2011, at Stormont-Vail Health Care. He was born on May 18, 1932 in Grainfield, Kansas the son of Alexander J. and Anna (Wassinger) Dinkel. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force serving from 1952 to 1956. Laverne owned and operated A Auto Company Inc. on Grantville Road for many years. He was a member of Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus Council #534 and the James W. Gibbons Assembly of the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus where he had served as Past Faithful Navigator. He was a former member of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Laverne enjoyed playing golf and doing upholstery work. He married Dolores Ann Voelker on May 31, 1952. She predeceased him on February 6, 1990. He is survived by one daughter, Jana (Dale) Larson of Topeka, two sons, Jim (Monique) Dinkel of Denver, Colorado, Michael (Valerie) Dinkel of Bowie, Maryland, three brothers, Bill Dinkel and Cleatus Dinkel of Topeka, Elmer Dinkel of Overland Park, two sisters, Leona Frye and Ella Roberts both of Topeka, and seven grandchildren, Jamie, Kevin, Chris, Brian, Katie, Jack and Anna. Laverne will lie in state at the Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home on Friday after 2:00 p.m. where a Parish Rosary will be prayed at 6:00 p.m. and a Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus Chalice Ceremony will be at 6:30 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. at Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church. Interment will follow in Mt. Calvary Cemetery with military honors provided by Philip Billard Post #1650 of the VFW. Memorial contributions may be made to Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church sent in care of the Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home, 800 SW 6th Ave., Topeka 66603.