Lavern was born December 25, 1943, in Indianola, Iowa the son of Harold and Eva (Shafer) Mathes.  Died on April 24, 2005.  He attended the Gladbrook, LeGrand and Melbourne schools and later graduated from Marshalltown High School in 1962. He was united in marriage on March 31, 1966 in Omaha, Nebraska to Linda Shannon. Lavern resided in St. Anthony for several years before moving to Marshalltown. Lavern was employed by Fisher Controls of Marshalltown as a welder and heavy machine operator for over 37 years until his retirement in 2000. During his free time he enjoyed traveling to Wyoming and South Dakota with his friends to go hunting and fishing. He also loved to bowl, read, sports, stock car racing and was an avid fan of NASCAR. Lavern was a member of the Marshalltown Moose Lodge #313. 

Lavern is survived by his daughter Denise (James) Parris of Nevada, Linda Mathes of Nevada, his sister Deanna (Raymond) Steveson of Marshalltown, his brother Darrel Keith (Rebecca) Mathes of Haverhill, his brother Harold Gene (Becky) Mathes of Elkorn, Wisconsin, his sister Vicki (Kenny) Sires of Melbourne, his sister Ronda (Wayne) Blubaugh of Melbourne and several nieces and nephews. 

Lavern was preceded in death by his parents and his great-niece Melissa.