DARLINGTON — A celebration of life for artist Lavern Kammerude is being planned by the Lafayette County Historical and Genealogy Society for 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 3 at the Carnegie Library Museum, 525 Main Street, Darlington. Refreshments will be served at the event.
Some of Kammerude’s paintings are held in museums throughout the Midwest in Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois, as well as in private collections in homes.
Guests to the program will have a never-before-seen glimpse into some of the rarest works of the late Lavern Kammerude (1915-1989), a Lafayette County native. Privately owned paintings will make a rare appearance at the event. The program will give an overview of his life, as well as tell the stories of his works that depict years gone by.
Among those in attendance will be people who knew him best, as well as those who have followed his journey through his paintings. The works of art will tell about the former ways of farming, lessons learned in one-room schools, country living and life in Wisconsin. Learn the stories behind the paintings, and how those owners came into possession of some of the rarer finds.
The paintings that are on display at the museum are scheduled to remain in cases, with the option to view them before and after the program. Guests to the program are reminded that touching any of the artwork is strictly prohibited.
Lavern John Kammerude was born on Friday, Dec. 10, 1915, in the farmhouse that he would be raised in, eventually raising his two sons in the same homestead. He was the first born child of Mary (Kainz) and Peter Kammerude of rural Argyle — another son, Jonas was born in 1919, and daughter Marcella was born in 1925. The family made their home on a farm in the Yankee Hollow area, near where Mary Kammerude’s family grew up.
Lavern Kammerude married Mildred “Millie” McQuillan on Sept. 30, 1935. She was the daughter of Frank and Clara (Wahler) McQuillan of Argyle, and was the oldest of six children, having two sisters and three brothers. She graduated from Argyle Schools in 1933. Lavern and Millie had two sons, Gary and Herbert, and nine grandchildren.
Lavern Kammerude died at the age of 75 on Sept. 26, 1989. Millie Kammerude lived to 98 and died Jan. 17, 2013. Their son, Herbert Kammerude preceded them in death on June 20, 1982. Their oldest son, Gary Kammerude died at 78 on Feb. 26, 2019.
Chester Garthwaite, author of “Threshing Days: The Farm Paintings of Lavern Kammerude” earned the 1991 Banta Award for his book depicting Kammerude’s artwork. The cover of the book showcases Kammerude’s most recognized work of art, “Belgian Power” which is said to be one of his most priceless works. Garthwaite was the agriculture teacher at Mineral Point schools. He was also the agriculture teacher at Black Hawk in South Wayne for many years. His writings were also a reflection of his own love for the history of agriculture.
