Earl Peter Lauritsen

Earl Peter Lauritsen, the son of Benjamin Immanuel and Lena Christena Jorgensen Lauritsen, was born June 9, 1936, at his parents home near Audubon, Iowa and died December 29, 2009, at the Audubon County Memorial Hospital in Audubon at the age of 73 years, 6 months, and 20 days.
Earl was baptized March 23, 1950, and confirmed April 2, 1950, at Our Saviours Lutheran Church in Audubon. He attended rural school near Exira, Iowa and then graduated from the Exira High School with the Class of 1955. Earl then worked for his father operating the family farm. On October 7, 1958, he was inducted into the U.S. Army. During his tour of duty he served as a lineman. He was honorably discharged on July 6, 1960, and returned to farming. On October 15, 1961, he was again inducted into the U.S. Army during the Berlin Crisis. He served as a lineman until he was discharged in July 16, 1962, and returned home to farm with his father.
On March 24, 1963, he was united in marriage to Ella Puck at the First Methodist Church in Audubon. Two sons, Randal and Michael, were born to this union. They operated a farm in Greeley Township, Audubon County, Iowa which they later purchased. Earl raised grain and livestock and in 1994 started organic farming. He has continued to farm helping with the harvest this year.
Earl enjoyed watching and participating in anything that had to do with his grandsons. Earl enjoyed playing golf and watching auto racing in Newton, Iowa. Earl and Ella enjoyed square dancing and served as co-president of the Audubon Circle As. Earl also loved to barbeque. Earl enjoyed farming and spending time with his family.
Earl was a member of Our Saviours Lutheran Church in Audubon and had served on the Church Council. He was a member of the T-Bone Association in Audubon, the Cattlemans Association and the Pork Producers. In 1984 he helped to revitalize the Greenbrier Golf Course. Earl was a 4-H leader, a member of the Extension Council, and was the second vice president of OCIA Chapter 1 of Iowa and was an honorary chapter farmer of the Exira F.F.A.
Preceding him in death were his parents; his in-laws: Ed and Helen Puck; his brother Emmert Lauritsen; his brother-in-law Daniel Zag Pennel; his sister-in-law Doris Lauritsen; his brother-in-law Steve Ernst; his former brother-in-law Doug Cole and his former sister-in-law Donna Jean Weston Lauritsen.
Survivors include his wife Ella Lauritsen of Exira, IA; his sons and their wives: Randal and Dodi Lauritsen; Michael and Elizabeth Lauritsen, all of Exira; his grandsons: Luke; R.J. and Jake Lauritsen, and Chance and Gage Lauritsen, all of Exira, IA; his special nephew Brian Lauritsen of Lamar, CO; his sisters and brothers: Norma Pennel of Petersburg, West Virginia; Virgil Lauritsen of Sac City, IA; Edward and Elaine Lauritsen of Audubon; Raymond and Dorothy Lauritsen of Ft. Wayne, IN; Dale and Donna Rae Lauritsen of Webster City, IA; his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Wanda and Al Johnson of Nathrop, CO; Helen Ernst; Ed and Vicki Puck, all of Carroll, IA; Garry and Becky Puck and Ben and Kathy Puck, all of Manning, IA; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Keep Smiling

Cemetery:
Interment will be in the Arlington Heights Cemetery in Audubon.

Visitation:
The family will meet friends Friday evening at 5:00 at Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon.

Service:
Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Christopher Martin on Saturday, January 2, 2010 at 1:00 P.M. at Our Saviours Lutheran Church in Audubon.