Donald Virgil Lauridsen

Donald Virgil Lauridsen, the son of Nels and Augusta Jensen Lauridsen, was born June 21, 1918, at his parents home east of Exira, Iowa and died October 6, 2008 at the Friendship Home, Audubon, Iowa at the age of 90 years, 3 months, and 15 days.
Donald was baptized and confirmed at the Ebenezer Lutheran Church west of Audubon, Iowa.
He attended rural school at Melville No. 7 east of Hamlin, Iowa and Douglas No. 9 west of Audubon. He worked on the farm with his father and started farming on his own in 1940 in Guthrie County for one year and then farmed east of Hamlin for 37 years, retiring in 1978.
On March 4, 1950, he was united in marriage to Velma Gwendolyn Paulsen at a Methodist Church in Lincoln, Nebraska. They lived on the farm east of Hamlin until Dons retirement, then moved to their home in Audubon.
During retirement, Donald enjoyed his home, gardening and taking care of his lawn. Donald was an avid reader and kept up on local and world news. He loved dancing and polka music. The Lawrence Welk program was a must to watch on Saturday night. Donald and Velma loved to go for a Sunday afternoon car ride through rural Audubon County, Spring planting time, Harvest Time and to see the fall leaves. Donald could tell you who lived on the farms in Audubon County. They truly enjoyed living neighbors to the Edwards, the Nelsons, and the Kellys. Donald underwent a laryngectomy in 2000 due to cancer. This left him to use a voice appliance as his method of communication. He overcame this disability, even learning to talk on the telephone. Velma died September 29, 2001. Donald enjoyed his home then moved to the Friendship Home in Audubon in August of 2008.
Donald was a member of Hamlin Lutheran Church, served as vice president on the church council and also as president of the Hamlin Lutheran Cemetery. He also was a long time member of the Hamlin Dart-Ball team and the Brayton and Hamlin Breakfast Fellowship.
Preceding him in death were his wife Velma; an infant son, Paul Allen; his parents; his brothers: Roland Lauridsen, Dallas and his wife Betty Lauridsen, and Darrell Lauridsen; his sisters-in-law: Caroline Lauridsen and Sylvia and her husband Orville Winther.
Survivors include his sister: Mardell and Robert Christoffersen; his sister-in-law, Ruth Lauridsen, all of Audubon, IA; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Cemetery:
Interment will be in the Hamlin Lutheran Cemetery.

Visitation:
The family will meet friends Thursday evening at 7:00 at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon.

Service:
Funeral services will be Friday, October 10, 2008 at 2:00 at the Hamlin Lutheran Church in Hamlin, IA.