LaVern C. "Toad" Surman, Appleton, age 88, died Wednesday, March 8, 2017 at St. Elizabeth Hospital. He was born in Seymour on May 20, 1928 to the late Charles and Alma (Heisler) Surman. Toad married Veraine "Chick" Skaletski on May 26, 1951 in Eaton, WI. He was a Korean War Veteran and a member of the Freedom V.F.W. Post 7692. Toad worked in customer service at Tri-County Distributors. He enjoyed bowling, hunting and fishing in his younger years. Toad and Chick enjoyed traveling. He preferred the backroads over the highways so they could see the real world. Toad loved to spend time with his grandchildren and attending their sporting and school events.

Toad is survived by his wife of 64 years, Chick (Veraine); children: Jim (Barb) of Appleton; Debbie (Bob) Randerson of Greenville; Rick (Kim) of Darboy; and Marty (Carole) of Darboy; grandchildren: Craig (Susanne) Surman, Lori (Rob) Pagel, Eric (Laura) Surman, Jill (Brian) Bobinski, Jenna (friend Simon Ly) Randerson, Matt (friend Ellie Anderson) Randerson, Stacy (Chad) Lenhart, Jeff (Kari) Surman, Marissa (friend Ryan Kasner) Surman and Jared (Bonnie) Surman; great grandchildren: Johnathon, Kendra, Savannah, Kai, Evelyn, Gwendolyn, Alex, Thomas, Peyton, Jacob, Wesley, Easton and Audrey; sisters: Virginia Wachtendonk, Lavina Stephani, Violet Blohm, Verona (Jerry) Martin, Rosemary Burton and Roselie Schweitzer; and brothers and sisters-in-law: Mary Cisler, Jerry (Shirley) Skaletski, Jeanne Schaller, Danny (Bev) Skaletski, Michael (Charlene) Skaletski, Anne Edwards and Grace Skaletski. He is further survived by many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

In addition to his parents, Toad was preceded in death by his son-in-law, Tom Stein; great granddaughter, Brooke Ellen Pagel; brother, Verge (Toots) Surman; and brothers and sisters-in-law: Dick Wachtendonk, Erv Stephani, Norm Blohm, Dale, Tom (Carol) and Francis Skaletski, Ardie Cisler, Tom Schaller and Jim Edwards.

Visitation will be held Saturday, March 11, 2017 (TODAY) at ST. BERNARD PARISH (1617 W. Pine St. Appleton) beginning at 9:00 a.m. until time of Mass at 11:00 a.m. The Rev. Dennis Ryan will officiate. Military rites conducted by the Freedom V.F.W. Post 7692 will immediately follow.

Toad will be warmly remembered for his sense of humor and one-liners. If he had written this obituary himself, it would have simply read, "Toad croaked!"