Vera L. Hawkinson

Vera Ludmila Verner Hawkinson, 84, of Phoenix, Arizona, passed on to heaven on September 11, 2019 in Munds Park, Arizona. Vera was born on November 21, 1934 in St. Paul, Minnesota to Frank and Ludmila Verner. Vera, who was a first generation Czech-American, along with her brothers, Miroslav and Jaroslav, were raised in a strong Czech-American community. Vera graduated from Monroe High School in 1953. Vera sadly lost her Mother when she was only 20 years old. While Vera never completed any education past high school, she was a student of the world and self-made entrepreneur. Vera loved to travel and in her 20s cycled across Europe.

Vera was active in the Czech and Slovak Sokol Camp in Pine City, Minnesota and participated in the Czech Folk Dancing group. She even managed to corral her Swedish/Norwegian husband, Wayne Hawkinson, into donning the traditional Czech garb and joining the group. Vera and Wayne married on October 3, 1964 and enjoyed 50 years of marriage before Wayne’s passing on November 6, 2014. Together they had 4 children: Dorothy Belanger (husband, Mark) of Sylmar, California; Karen Hawkinson of Phoenix, Arizona; Glen Hawkinson (wife, Erin) of Chandler, Arizona; and Linda Wilson of Cave Creek, Arizona.

After starting their family in Minnesota, Vera and Wayne moved to Arizona in 1972. Together, they launched a plumbing shop and service called “Tiger Plumbing”. Later Vera opened a laundromat called “The Scrub Tub”. Together, they built a business center named Tiger Plaza to which they relocated Tiger Plumbing. Vera made sure Wayne kept his word to someday put her name in lights, and they subsequently opened a second laundromat named “Vera’s Laundromat”.

During this time, Vera and Wayne joined La Casa de Cristo Lutheran Church in its beginnings at Desert Shadows Middle School. Vera and Wayne supported the church as it grew and moved to its first campus on Thunderbird and again to its current location on Bell Road. Vera supported and participated with Wayne in several business and charitable organizations, including the Phoenix Plumbing, Heating, Cooling Contractors Association (PHCCC) and the El Zaribah Shrine. Vera especially enjoyed spending time with the spouses of the Shriners, joining them in their work and travels through the women’s auxiliary group, the Jesterettes. Vera enjoyed their company, and often played cards with the women while in Munds Park or Phoenix.

As if raising 4 children, running 3 businesses, and participating in community and professional organizations wasn’t enough, Vera was also actively involved in local sports leagues. Vera became involved in the Paradise Valley Recreational Softball League, helping to run the league as well as coaching the girls’ softball teams (always sponsored by Tiger Plumbing). Even Vera’s dog got in the act, serving as the team mascot, wearing the team shirt at every game. Vera also played herself in an adult softball league on Tiger Plumbing’s team and the church’s bowling league on a team dubbed “The Holy Rollers”.

Vera still managed to find time to volunteer at her kids’ schools. Vera cooked spaghetti dinners for Band Banquets. She also volunteered in classrooms and taught the kids to make root beer. Vera shared her Czech culture with the classes as well, wearing her traditional costume. At the holidays, Vera incorporated the Czech culture through a traditional Czech ornament craft for each child to make and take home. Vera always made each of her children feel special at the beginning of the school year, taking them individually to buy clothing and then out to lunch at Coco’s. Vera’s support of her kids meant she would drive one to a different school just to have the chance to play in a jazz band. She attended every game and concert throughout their school careers and into college. It was common to see her sitting in the stands cheering her kids on in every endeavor.

Vera waited patiently several years for grandchildren before finally purchasing a life-like doll (with great fanfare), because none had yet been produced. Shortly after the purchase of the doll, Vera welcomed into the world 6 grandchildren within a span of 4 years (Emily, Luke, Spencer, Katerina, Sean and Caitlin). Vera chose to be called “Babi”, the Czech nickname for grandmother. As she did with her own kids, Vera made every effort to attend her grandchildren’s events whenever she could (even if it meant traveling out of state) for equestrian, plays, church activities, swim, soccer, band, softball, volleyball or other events. Vera always made the holidays extra special, from continuing Easter egg hunts into their teens and hosting the grandkids for a New Year’s Eve sleepover at her house with a midnight pine cone drop. Vera made sure to continue to share her Czech culture with the next generation by making them pork and Czech dumplings as well as Czech plum (or blueberry) dumplings.

After the sale of their businesses, Vera travelled extensively with Wayne around the country and the world, including Europe and Australia. Vera was always up for a card game- preferably Skip Bo or Golf. Vera’s love for animals meant there was always a pet in the house- from breeding Himalayan cats, numerous dogs and even taking in a litter of 10 kittens. Vera spent her summers at her cabin in Munds Park, enjoying the cool weather, birds, squirrels and friendly neighbors. Vera was a kind, generous and loving wife, mother, and “Babi” and will be greatly missed.

She is survived by her children and six grandchildren and predeceased by her husband Wayne, as well as her brothers Miroslav and Jaroslav. A viewing will be held at Shadow Mountain Mortuary on Sunday, September 29 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. A service in her honor will be held on September 30, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. at La Casa de Cristo Lutheran Church on 6300 E. Bell Road, Scottsdale, Arizona with a reception following at the church. Afterwards, all are invited to a graveside service at the Greenwood Memory Lawn Cemetery on 2300 W. Van Buren St., Phoenix, Arizona. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made in Vera Hawkinson’s name to the Arizona Humane Society, the El Zaribah Temple or Shriners Hospitals.