Barbara Lois Laursen

Barbara Lois Laursen, 94, of Appleton, WI, passed away peacefully on April 17, 2023. 

Barb was born on March 31, 1929, in Petoskey, MI to William and Dorothy Hewitt.  

Barbara attended the one room school in Conway, MI, where she graduated from 8th grade in June of 1942 and during that time, she participated in 4H. She then attended Petoskey High School where she graduated from in June of 1946 and then went on to attend Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, MI, and graduated with a BS in education in June of 1950. She later attended Iowa State University for studies in Home Economics in the summer of 1952.  

Barb was a member of the Order of Eastern Star from May of 1950, a life member of Evangeline Chapter No. 95, Boyne City, MI, Fidelity Chapter No. 94, Appleton, WI Fidelity Chapter No. 94, Appleton, WI, a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution from April 2006, Appleton Chapter 5-003-WI and a member of White Shrine No. 10 in Appleton. 

On August 17, 1952, Barbara married the love of her life, Verner Laursen at Parr Memorial Baptist Church, Petoskey, MI. Together they raised 4 beautiful children.  

She worked as a teacher after she graduated from college and later worked at Wiebolt Department Store for 6 about 6 years but spent much of her adult life raising her children. 

Barbara is survived by her husband, her children; John F. (Susan) Laursen, Rockford, IL, Susan L. Heuer, McHenry, IL, Carol R. Novak, McHenry, IL, and Kenneth R. Laursen, Appleton, WI, her grandchildren; Angelica M. (Kyle) Cagle, Kaitlynn R. (Jordan) Lenoir, Casey S. Heuer, Lauren J. Novak, Brianna M. Novak, and Natasha N. Laursen,  great-grand child Alexander M. Cagle and her sister La Vaun (Ben) Tuminello, Conway, MI. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, her twin sister Betty (Lyman) Simpson in January 1985 and her brother William B. (Joann) Hewitt in July 1999. 

Barbara will be laid to rest at Oak Hill Cemetery in Brayton, Iowa.