LaVonne “Von” (Phillips) Gall, of Sioux City, IA passed away Thursday, May 19, 2011, at her home in Sioux City.
Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, May 25, 2011, at Blessed Sacrament Church in Sioux City with Rev. Merlin J. Schrad. Burial will be in the St. Mary’s Cemetery in Remsen. Visitation will be from 5 to 7p.m. on Tuesday, May 24, 2011. There will be a vigil prayer service at 7 p.m. all at Fisch Funeral Home & Monument in Remsen. Visitation will resume from 9:30 a.m. until service time at the Blessed Sacrament Church in Sioux City on Wednesday.
LaVonne was born, in Remsen, IA, the daughter of Fred T. & Catherine (Schaaf) Phillips. She was raised and educated in the Remsen area. After her graduation from high school she attended an all girls boarding and College of Ward-Belmont of Nashville, TN where she earned her diploma in dance. She then taught adult education at Central High School in Sioux City.
During her dance Career the Choreographer for Fred Astaire saw her perform and came backstage to ask where she learned the routine she just performed. He said he just finished teaching “Fred” the same! Then he said “O I’m Fred Astaire’s choreographer … Hermes Pan. If you come to California in the not too distant future I would like you to try out with Fred and see if you are compatable. He gave me his one and only way to contact him… a card with a very private phone number. When I showed my sister the card with his intentions my sister grabbed the card and tore it into little pieces. My sister didn’t want people to know “how old” she was . She kept me in young girlish clothes and always called me her little sister. I was already out of college !! So with all my years of studying dance I never was able to accept the invite.”
Von met Arthur Gall in Miami, Fl where he was in the U.S. Coast Guard. On June 23, 1945 she married Art. The couple then made their home in Sioux City, IA. Upon this union they had two children. Art died Aug. 26, 2000.
Von was a member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, Sioux City Art Center. She worked with the Girl Scout Troops of Woodbury County. She also served on the Youth Symphony Board and past membership Guild. Von was an avid golfer and was voted the most improved female golfer in late 1980's.
Survivors include: Her daughter Deborah “Debbie” Phillips; Her son A. Philip “Biff” Gall. One granddaughter, Lisa Phillips & her husband Michael Smego; One Great-granddaughter, Breanne Kathryne Phillips-Smego. Numerous nieces & nephews.
Preceded in death by, her parents, and all her siblings.