LaVonne Dorr

LaVonne (Barlass) Dorr, age 90, peacefully passed away on what would have been her mother’s birthday, January 6, 2026, at Our House Senior Living where she has resided for the past year. She was born February 21, 1935 in Janesville; she was the daughter of Andy and Audrey (Littell) Barlass. She graduated from Janesville High School and worked at Parker Pen until she married her husband of 68 years, Allen Dorr. From that time on she was a homemaker and loving mother to their three children. As a farmer’s wife she worked hard to cook meals for the farm workers and her family and took great pride in having a tidy house and weedless landscaping. She was an excellent cook, using vegetables and fruits she grew in her garden and canned, so she had them to use throughout the year. Her family and friends enjoyed her cookies and desserts she always had available and was happy to share with any family in need or the church bazaars. All who knew “Vonnie” would comment how genuinely kind she was. She always had a smile to greet you and was the first to lend a hand to friends, at her church bazaars or to friends dealing with illness or loss. It also would be hard to think about Vonnie without thinking of the many cats and special dogs she had over the years. If an animal, domestic or wild, were in need, if they found their way to Vonnie they would have excellent care.

LaVonne was a life long member of Rock Prairie Presbyterian Church where she served on many committees, sang in the choir, and helped with Sunday school and special events. She and Allen would rarely miss a Sunday service until her health no longer enabled her to go out. It was evident that her favorite roles in life were being a wife, mother, and grandmother. It was a great joy for her to host family holidays and have everyone together. She was the best mom a child could ask for. She and Allen would be seen at every event any of their children, and later, their grandchildren took part in.

LaVonne is survived by her loving husband Allen, their three children Cindy Dorr (Dennis Duoss), Chris Silha (Dan), and Bob Dorr (Julie), along with seven granddaughters: Erica Bergsbaken (Chad), Emily Palasini, Alivia Cuyler (Dan), Sarah Dorr, Megan Hineline (Nick), Caralyne Bachaus (Hunter), and Alyse Silha. She also was the proud Great-Grandma of Taytum and Trevor Bergsbaken, Ellie and Izzy Palasini, Stassi Cuyler, and Arya Hineline. She is also survived by her brother Andrew Barlass (Marilyn), three sister-in-laws, Janice, Joan, and Clara, along with many nieces and nephews. She was proceeded in death by her parents Andrew and Audrey Barlass, her in-laws Robert and Helen (Taylor) Dorr, her son-in-law Rob Gray, and her brother and sister in laws Don, Judy, Claude, Harry.

Visitation will be held Sunday January 11, 2026, from 1:00 – 4:00 in the afternoon at HENKE-CLARSON FUNERAL HOME, 1010 N. Wright Road, Janesville and on Monday, January 12th at ROCK PRAIRIE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 8605 East County Road A from 10 to 11 a.m. with funeral services following at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial in LaVonne’s name to The Dementia & Alzheimer’s Association or Bristol Hospice. Online condolences may be sent to www.henkeclarson.com

Our family would like to give a special thank you to Jen, Krista, and the caring staff at Our House Senior Living for giving LaVonne great care over the last year of her life.