Lavena Ilene (Cass) (Buchda) Brady, 92, passed away to be with her Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ, on August 19, 2026 at home in Tomah surrounded by family, after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s Disease.
Born in February 1934 to Henry & Corabelle (Walker) Cass, she had two older brothers LaVern & Delbert (“Lee”). Lavena grew up in La Crescent Minnesota, 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 & Lavena raised 5 children: Pamela, Timothy, Anthony, Diane, & 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 & 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 & 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 2 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, 4 step-great grandchildren, 2 step-great great grandchildren.
Family and Friends are invited to attend a CELBRATION OF LIFE service on Saturday, September 19, 2026, 11:30 AM 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 on Saturday at the funeral home from 10:30 AM 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.
Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home
