Henry, or Hank as he was called, was born at Hanover, Kansas, to Henry J.
   and Lousie S. (Schierkolk) Laverentz. Hank was baptized in March 1914 and
   confirmed in 1927. When he was ten years old, he, along with his brothers
   Elmer, Alfred and Clarence and his sister Goldie and his parents moved to
   a farm near Zenda, Kansas. He stayed on the farm with his parents during 
   World War II.
     Virginia was born March 28, 1924, at Nashville, Kansas, to Joseph J. and
   Clara (Brown) Mattal, the seventh of ten children. In 1924 the family moved
   to rural Haven, Kansas, and moved back to Nashville in the fall of 1940.
   Virginia graduated from Nashville High School in 1941. She was confirmed at
   St. John's in 1944.
     Hank and Virginia were married December 24, 1943, at the Lutheran parsonage
   of St. John's by Pastor Oscar Mueller. After they wer married, they bought
   the old "Shepherd" house in Nashville; Virginia still lives there. Hank
   farmed and, in 1951, went to work for Gold Bond Products in Medicine Lodge.
   He retired from there in 1976 after twenty-five years. During his retire-
   ment, he enjoyed gardening, his grandchildren and camping.
     Hand and Virginia had two daughters; Linda was born November 11, 1951,
   and Jolene, January 3, 1958. Linda is married to Edward Vierthaler of Zenda,
   Kansas. They have three children: Jennifer and John Clouse and Christina
   Vierthaler. Jolene married Dave Heatherman of Kingman, Kansas, and has four
   children: Kelli, Eric, Joe and Jeff.
     Virginia is a charter member of Harmony EHU. She served on the Centennial
   Committee of the Nashville celebration and has been treasurer of the Dorcas
   Society of St. John's and vice-president of the Great Bend Zone of the
   Lutheran Women's Missionary League.
     Virginia worked at the Nashville Hospital and at the Medicine Lodge Hospital.
   For thirty-five years she worked for the U.S. Postal Service at Nashville, the
   last fourteen years as Postmaster. She retired September 3, 1986.
     Hank died April 2, 1988, and is buried in the St. John's Lutheran Cemetery
   at Nashville.
     "I enjoy my daughters and their families and try to be on call if they
   need help, the orginizations to which I belong, my church and community,
   good friends and good health," she said.
                     
  Source:St. John's Lutheran Church Centennial 1893-1993, Nashville, Kansas, pg. 62 
  Submitted by: Virginia Laverentz