Don Ray Lauritsen

Don Ray Lauritsen, the son of Arthur and Dagny (Jensen) Lauritsen, was born July 30, 1934, at his parents’ home in Hamlin Township Audubon County east of Hamlin, Iowa and died May 20, 2015 at the Exira Care Center in Exira, Iowa at the age of 80 years, 9 months, and 20 days.
Don was baptized and confirmed at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon. He attended rural school, Hamlin #8, and then graduated from the Audubon High School with the Class of 1952. On July 16, 1952, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. During his tour of duty he served as a pipe fitter aboard the USS Windham Bay which carried wreckage between the Far East and California. He was honorably discharged on June 29, 1955. Don returned to the Audubon area and drove truck for William’s Trucking and Danzel Nelson for a short time before he started farming in 1956.
On August 16, 1956, he was united in marriage to Sylvia Jensen at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Six children were born to this union. Don grew row crops and raised livestock in the Hamlin/Exira area. Sylvia died on February 19, 2000.
On September 8, 2001, he married Joan Crees at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Harlan, Iowa, expanding his family by five children and 11 grandchildren. Don continued to farm until he retired in 2004.
Don was a life-long member of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon. He served on the church board and ushered for over 50 years. Don was active in the Beef Producers, was a 4-H leader, and was a CO-OP board member. He was a founding member of Multi-Pig, the first hog confinement in Audubon County. He enjoyed traveling, playing cards, golfing and camping. He was an accomplished woodworker and a stain-glass artist. Don was a farmer at heart and enjoyed his horses, raising cattle, and farming the land.
Preceding him in death were his wife Sylvia; an infant son Toni Steven Lauritsen; stepchildren Cindy Robillard and Julie Crees; and his sister-in-law Carol Jensen.
Survivors include his wife Joan Lauritsen of Hamlin, Iowa; his children Scott Lauritsen of Exira, Iowa, Dean Lauritsen of Audubon, Iowa, Diane and husband Tom Law of Omaha, Nebraska, Steven and wife Sherri Lauritsen of Pella, Iowa, and Daren Lauritsen of Exira, Iowa; 12 grandchildren; his step-children Cathy Crees of Bondurant, Iowa, Dan and wife Natalie Crees of Harlan, Iowa, Lauri and husband Jeff Bates of Atlanta, Georgia, Jeff and wife Staci Crees of Earlham, Iowa; 11 step grandchildren, 2 step great grandchildren; his sister Dorothy Ann and husband Arnold Larsen of Fort Collins, Colorado; his brothers-in-law Larry Jensen of Omaha, Nebraska, Rick and wife Bev Mathisen of Kimballton, Iowa; his sister-in-law Char Jespersen of Exira, Iowa; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Doug Opp on Wednesday, May 27, 2015, at 10:30 A.M. at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon, Iowa. Interment will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon. Military graveside rites will be conducted by Audubon Post No. 120, American Legion and Dale Christensen Post No. 4119, V.F.W. The honorary casket bearers will be Roger Andersen, Henry Walters, Richard Petersen, Floyd Hackwell, Perry Paulsen, and Larry Drees. The casket bearers will be Daniel Lauritsen, Ty Lauritsen, Benjamin Lauritsen, Reno Law, Jason Crees, Eric Bratt, Travis Crees, Devin Crees, Ryan Bates, and Scott Robillard. The family will meet with friends on Tuesday evening at 6:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon, Iowa.