April 14, 1921 – June 5, 2010


LaVern Wesley Adams passed away Saturday, June 5, 2010, at the age of 89. He was born April 14, 1921, in Waukesha, to Wesley Chapman and Agnes (nee Morris) Adams.

He spent his early years on his parents’ farm on Delafield Street, developing his agricultural skills. His boyhood avocation was baseball and he developed a lifelong love for the game. "Ace" Adams was a standout player in Legion and Land o’ Lakes teams and was described in a Waukesha Freeman article as the "leading fireball pitcher in the Lakes."

He graduated from Waukesha High School in 1938. He met Martha Pauline Rickert in 1938 and they married on Aug. 30, 1941. They purchased their own farm on Oakdale Drive in the town of Waukesha in 1945 and lived there until 2007. LaVern was a successful dairy farmer raising Holstein cattle and was a pioneer in developing a milking parlor system for milking cows. He was a founding member of the town of Waukesha Volunteer Fire Department, served on the Oakdale School School Board and was a member of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church since 1953. In 1963, a major fire destroyed the family dairy barn, which led to his second career as a successful breeder and trainer of standard-bred horses. He purchased his first trotter, "Chancy," in 1963 and trained his last trotter, "Close to my Heart," in 2007. He became a familiar, well-liked and respected member of the harness racing community. He involuntarily retired at age 87 due to the effects of a stroke.

LaVern is survived by his wife of 69 years, Martha, along with their children, Jeffrey (Judith) Adams, Bryan (Mary) Adams, Beth Adams and Susan Schroeder. He was the grandfather of Samuel, Will, Daniel, Ashley, Nick, Amanda, Melissa and Jessica. He is further survived by his sisters-in-law, Bernice Adams, Esther Rickert and Hertha Rickert, and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Kenneth and Delbert.

Visitation will take place from 9:30 a.m. until the 11 a.m. funeral service Friday, June 11, at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, 1205 S. East Ave., Waukesha, with the Rev. Peter Schmidt presiding. Graveside services will follow at Prairie Home Cemetery.

The family suggests memorials to the Linden-Grove Foundation, 13700 W. National Ave., New Berlin, WI 53151, or the charity of the donor’s choice.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Linden Court in Mukwonago for their compassionate care given to LaVern from October 2007 until his death.

For further information, please call Randle-Dable Funeral, Cremation and Preplanning Services at 547-4035 or go to www.waukeshafunerals.com to leave an online tribute.