Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Raab, LaVern L. January 13, 2013
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Nan Wheaton wheaton1624@yahoo.com September 1, 2014, 12:29 pm

Ionia Sentinel-Standard - Tues. Jan. 15, 2013

LaVern L. Raab, of Ionia and formerly of Orleans died peacefully at home on 
Jan. 13, 2013 at the age of 83. He was born on Oct. 6, 1929 in Ionia Township 
the son of Jacob and Adelia (Brower) Raab. LaVern married Wanda Wright on April 
15, 1950 and together they traveled throughout the world while he was in the 
military and had stops in Nebraska, Bermuda, Maryland and Texas and their 
children were born during this time. 

Vern excelled in football and baseball for the Ionia Bulldogs and later 
attended Ferris University. Vern was also instrumental in organizing the Ionia 
Independent, a semi-pro football team who many citizens of Ionia County were 
involved in which raised money for charity.

Vern’s 10 years of military service included the Korean War, four years in the 
Air Police and his last six years as a Judo instructor for the combat crew and 
air police. He attended the famed Kodokan Judo Institute in Tokyo, Japan. He 
later returned to Japan as a member of the United State Judo Team and 
represented the U.S. in the Pan American Judo Championship. 

After retiring from the military, he started the first American Judo Academy in 
Omaha, Neb., and was the president of the Midwest Black Belt Association that 
controls the promotion and teaching of Judo in six states. He ended his Judo 
career with a 5 degree black belt. He owned his own business, Vern’s Place in 
Ionia and after that continued to manage other business in the area. He was a 
member of the Ionia Moose, Eagles, Past Commander of the American Legion in 
Bermuda which gave him a life membership, Past Seam Squirrel with the Cooties-
VFW National Home and Life Member of the Elks and VFW.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 60 years, Wanda Raab and both 
parents.

Surviving are her children, Sharon (Craig) Pearce of Saranac and Gailene Briggs 
of Ionia; grandchildren, Mark (Stacey) Kamradt of Orleans and Dana Kamradt of 
Ionia; step grandchildren, Kristin (Jamie) Petersen, Nanci (Michael) Arnold, 
and Hope (Billy) Blanchard.

The Funeral Service will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013 at Lehman 
Funeral Homes, 220 Rich St., Ionia with Rev. Kenneth Harger, Pastor of Shiloh 
Community Church presiding. The family will receive friends at funeral home 
from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday. Military Honors will be provided by the Sheridan 
V.F.W. Post #5065.

Online condolences may be made at www.lehmanfuneralhomes.com.



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