Laura Mae Lassen

Laura M. Lassen, 37, of St. Paul, died Saturday, May 26, 2012, at the Howard County Medical Center in St. Paul, after a courageous battle with cancer. Services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in St. Paul. The Rev. Ray Kosmicki will officiate. Burial will be in the Dannevirke Cemetery in Dannevirke. Visitation will be Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the church. Peters Funeral Home of St. Paul is in charge of arrangements. Mrs. Lassen was born on May 13, 1975, at St. Paul, the daughter of Pete and Shiron (Dembowski) Johansen. She was united in marriage to Brad L. Lassen on Oct. 22, 1994, at St. Paul. She is survived by her husband, Brad L. Lassen; one daughter, Mercedes Lassen; two sons, Jaydon and Hunter Lassen, all at home; her parents, Pete and Shiron Johansen of Loup City; two brothers and two sisters-in-law, Tony and Julie Johansen of Grand Island and Mike and Tanya Johansen of St. Paul; one sister and brother-in-law, Wendy and Alan Perry of Aurora; and her grandmother, Mary Mostek of Grand Island. She is also survived by her in-laws, Randy and Joyce Lassen of Dannevirke and Diane and Duane Schleichardt of Phillips; sister-in-law and her husband, Kelli and Kenny Krzycki of Grand Island; nieces and nephews, Tyler and Whitney Perry of Aurora, Dominique, Mackenzie and Tayten Hitz of Columbus, and Kennadi and Tucker Krzycki of Grand Island; and aunts, uncles and cousins. As a child, Laura lived on a farm northwest of Farwell and began school at Farwell Public School. In 1984, she moved with her family to St. Paul where she continued her education and graduated from St. Paul High School in 1993. She then attended Central Community College in Grand Island. After she and Brad were married, they lived southwest of Worms. In 1998, they moved into St. Paul, where Laura was a daycare provider in her home. In 2008, she began working as a para educator at St. Paul Elementary School. She worked until 2009, when her health forced her to resign from her position. Laura was a Girl Scout Leader for several years. She was also a junior high volleyball coach and a scorekeeper for countless softball games. She enjoyed shopping and reading and loved attending her children's many sports events and activities. Her kids were her world! She was preceded in death by a brother, Jamie Lynn Johansen; and her grandparents, Virgil Dembowski and Willard and June Johansen. Memorials are suggested to the family's choice.