Laverne C. "Bernie" Levi

Laverne C. “Bernie” Levi, 79, of Rockford passed away Friday, December 19, 2014 at St. Anne Rehabilitation Center after complications from Progressive Supernuclear Palsy. Born May 11, 1935, in Kingston, Illinois, the son of Maurice and Ruth Levi. He graduated from Genoa-Kingston High School Bernie was a veteran of the United States Air Force serving 4 years while stationed in the States and Greenland. He married Annette Dongas on April 26, 1958 at Mission Covenant Church in Dekalb. Bernie was a Local 1268 UAW Chrysler member, retiring after 32 years on December 30, 1996. He was a member of Spring Creek United Church of Christ. He was a huge Green Bay Packers fan and loved antique cars. Most of all, Bernie loved his family. He also enjoyed fishing, boating and keeping track of his son-in-law, Kevin, while he was doing repairs at their cabin on Pickeral Lake in Eagle River, Wisconsin. Bernie was “A Good Man” and a friend to all.
Survived by his wife of 56 years, Annette; daughter, Cheryl (Kevin) McCauley of Dekalb; son, Paul (Jan) Levi of Belvidere; sister, Carol (Dennis) Botnen; brother, Larry (Melody); grandchildren, Lindsey (Ryan) Thompson, Kristen, Michael C., Matthew and Ben Levi; great-grandchildren, Wesley, Henry and Charley Laverne. Predeceased by his son, Michael A. Levi and his parents.
Funeral service will be at 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 30, 2014 at Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, Mulford Chapel, 1860 South Mulford Road, Rockford, with Pastor Ivan Schoen officiating. Visitation will be from 10:30 a.m. until the time of service on Tuesday at the funeral home. Burial in Arlington Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in honor of Laverne’s son, Michael. To express online condolences, please visit: www.fitzgeraldfh.com.