LAVENA ILENE (CASS) (BUCHDA) BRADY

Lavena Ilene (Cass) (Buchda) Brady, 92, passed away to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Aug. 19, 2026, at home in Tomah surrounded by family, after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s Disease.

Born in February 1934 to Henry and Corabelle (Walker) Cass, she had two older brothers LaVern and Delbert (“Lee”). Lavena grew up in La Crescent, MN, graduated in 1952 from Central High School in La Crosse, WI, and went to University of La Crosse for a year.

Lavena married Richard Dean Buchda in 1953 in La Crosse. Dick and Lavena raised five children: Pamela, Timothy, Anthony, Diane, and Valerie. She was a loving mother who dedicated her time and talents to her family, sharing her love of life and the importance of having integrity, honesty, thriftiness, education, creativity and charity.

Lavena was an involved member of her communities through business enterprises, volunteer work, social clubs, and friendships wherever she went. She and Dick built a family business, Buchda Lettering Service (Bucline, Ltd.) in Melrose, were involved in the Methodist Church, Rotary Club, community events and school activities.

Lavena developed her love of music, art, sewing and photography throughout her life and in many avenues. She pursued growing her faith through lay ministering and spiritual study. Lavena continued a family passion for genealogy. Her creativity flowed throughout her home and always included a menagerie of house plants. Lavena and Dick were very involved in Rotary at the local and district level, especially with the Youth Exchange Program. She was a pioneer in paving the way for woman as the first female member of the Rotary Club of Melrose and also of Sparta.

After many years of being a widow, Lavena married Jim Brady in 2010. They lived in Melrose and were winter “snowbirds” in Arizona until buying a home and living full-time at a retirement community in Florence, AZ, until 2022 when Jim passed away. They enjoyed many activities there and made many treasured friendships.

Preceded in death by her parents Henry and Corabelle (Walker) Cass; brother LaVern Cass and his wife Marilyn; first husband Richard Buchda (1997), their triplet sons at birth; second husband Jim Brady (2022); sister-in-law Jeanne Cass; daughter-in-law Donna Buchda; a step-grandson Eric Sayward, and two great- grandsons Kent Ramos and John Nichols III.

Survived by brother Del (Connie) Cass and family. Children Pam Buchda; Tim (Jeanne) Buchda [Shannon (Grant), Jason, Lacey, Corey]; Peggy Buchda (daughter of the heart); Tony (Carrie) Buchda [Sophia]; Diane (Ramos) Buchda [Joseph (Jen), AnneMichele (Dustin), Candice, Brian (Brouge), Elizabeth, John (Melissa), Michael (Liz), Julia, Stephen (Chelsey), Jacqueline, Daniel (Valeria)]; Valerie (Sayward) Buchda [Vanessa (Jay), legal guardian of Neto and Milena], Grandchildren: 17 grandchildren, 19 great- grandchildren, four step-great grandchildren, two step-great-great-grandchildren.

Family and friends are invited to attend a Celebration of Life service Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, at 11:30 a.m.at the Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home, 801 E. Monowau Street, Tomah, WI 54660. Pastor Shane Hayes will officiate. Private burial will be at a later date in La Crescent, MN.

Family and friends are invited for a time of visitation Saturday at the funeral home from 10:30 a.m. until the time of the service.

Following the service, a luncheon will be held at the Kupper-Ratsch Senior Center, 1002 Superior Ave. Tomah, WI 54660.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Tomah Health Hospice Touch, 601 Straw St, Tomah, WI 54660.