Elaine Marie Lauritsen

Elaine Marie Lauritsen, the daughter of Enoch Jeppe and Mildred Irene (Barratt) Sorensen, was born January 13, 1935, on her parents’ farm in rural Audubon, Iowa and died December13, 2017 at the Exira Care Center in Exira, Iowa at the age of 82 years and 11 months.
Elaine and her sister, Rose, were baptized on the same day March 22, 1951, at the Ebenezer Lutheran Church west of Audubon. Three days later the sisters were confirmed on March 25, 1951, at the Ebenezer Lutheran Church. Elaine attended rural Audubon County schools, Douglas #1, and then graduated from the Audubon High School with the Class of 1953.
On her 18th birthday, Elaine was engaged to Emmert L. Lauritsen. After she finished High School they were married on August 23, 1953 at the Ebenezer Lutheran Church. The couple was blessed with three children Kay, Brian, and Bruce. They farmed in the Audubon area for years until Emmert passed away on May 23, 1971.
On January 5, 1972, she married Edward B. Lauritsen in Omaha, Nebraska. Ed had three children Lisa, Laura, and Tim and together they raised their blended family. They lived in Audubon and enjoyed family and friends, golfing and visiting their children. After Ed retired, they spent their winters in Texas for several years. Ed died January 5, 2010. Elaine resided in her home until she moved to the Exira Care Center in May of 2017.
Elaine was an active member of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon. She taught Sunday school, Vacation Bible School and confirmation. She was active in the many women’s groups including the Women’s Circle and Bible Studies. Elaine was a long time member of the Garden Club and had served as President and a Master Gardener. But most of all Elaine enjoyed being involved with all her children’s activities, 4-H Clubs, attending all their sports and other school activities.
Preceding her in death were her husbands Emmert and Edward; Ed and Elaine’s infant son Paul Lauritsen; her step-son Tim Lauritsen; her brother and his family Harold, Karen, Laurie, Kevin, and Debbie Sorensen; her sister Loretta Eldridge; her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Earl and Wife Ella Lauritsen, Daniel Pennel, Doris Lauritsen, and Donna Rae Lauritsen.
Survivors include her children Kay and husband Steve Wilt of Gurnee, Illinois, Brian and wife Nicci Lauritsen of Lamar, Colorado, and Bruce and wife Barb Gigar Lauritsen of Guthrie Center, Iowa; her step-children Lisa and James Mauer of Caney, Kansas and Laura and James Hallinan of Lansing, Kansas; her grandchildren Jaime Wilt of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Alyssa Wilt of St. Paul, Minnesota, Ashley and Mike Traher of Phoenix, Arizona, Matthew Andrade of Lamar, Colorado, Lauren Andrade of Ft. Collins, Colorado, Jonathon Lauritsen and Anna Lauritsen both of Guthrie Center, Iowa; her step-grandchildren James Mauer, Jr. and Jacob Mauer both of Wheatridge, Colorado, Joshua Mauer and Jay Mauer both of Westminster, Colorado, and Jared Mauer of Wheatridge, Colorado, Jason and Sarah Hallinan of Winfield, Kansas, Nicole and Jerry Duxbury of Leavenworth, Kansas; her step-great grandchildren Kadyn White and Broxton Duxbury of Leavenworth, Kansas; her sister Rose and husband Maynard Madsen; her brother George and wife Joan Sorensen all of Audubon, Iowa.; her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Irvin Eldridge of Clinton, Indiana, Norma Pennel of Petersburg, West Virginia, Virgil Lauritsen of Sac City, Iowa, Dale Lauritsen of Webster City, Iowa, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
The family will meet with friends Monday morning December 18, 2017, from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon, Iowa. Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Doug Opp on Monday morning December 18, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon. Interment will be in the Arlington Heights Cemetery in Audubon. The honorary casket bearers will be her granddaughters: Jaime Wilt, Alyssa Wilt, Anna Lauritsen, and Nicole Duxbury. The casket bearers will be her grandsons Jonathon Lauritsen, Jimmy Mauer, Josh Mauer, Jay Mauer, Jared Mauer, and Jason Hallinan.