Metta Kirstine (Andersen) LAURSEN

LAURSEN, ANDERSEN, HOLLAND, JOHNSON, HAAHR, HEUER, NOVAK, WAUGH, BROWN, BRICKLEY, SAND

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 1/13/2007 at 11:51:53

Metta Kirstine Laursen, the daughter of Niels Peder Frederick and Karen Andersen Andersen, was born Dec. 10, 1901 on her parents' farm in Oakfield Township, Audubon County, and died Dec. 5, 2001 at Salem Lutheran Nursing Home in Elk Horn at the age of 99 years, 11 months and 25 days. Metta was baptized and confirmed at St. John's Lutheran Church west of Exira. Metta worked as a hired girl for several families. In November 1919 she attended "Winter School" at Grand View College in Des Moines until March 1920. She then was employed by a family in Des Moines for a short time. On June 5, 1922 she was united in marriage to John Philip Laursen at St. John's Church. They started farming on John's home farm in Pymosa Township, Cass County. They lived on and operated the farm, which was recognized as a Century Farm in 1987. They retired from farming in 1961. Metta continued gardening. Metta and John enjoyed traveling and made two trips to Denmark in the 1960s. John died Jan. 10, 1988. Metta continued to live on the farm until she moved to the Audubon Friendship Village in November 1991, where she lived until she moved to Salem Lutheran Nursing Home on May 15, 2001.Metta was a member of Brayton Lutheran Church and Women of the ELCA. She was a charter member of the N.H. Club in Pymosa Township and a charter member of the Keenagers at Brayton Lutheran Church. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary for 73 years and the V.F.W. Auxiliary. In 1994 Metta received a distinguished alumni award from Grand View College. She was a supporter of the Danish Immigrant Museum in Elk Horn. Metta was an avid reader and letter writer.

Preceding her in death in addition to her husband were her parents; her brother, Hans C. Andersen; her sister, Lydia M. Holland; and an infant sister. Survivors include her children, Marvin P. and his wife Ardyth Laursen of Muscatine; Verner E. and his wife Barbara Laursen of Appleton, Wis.; Vera K. Johnson of Eagle Grove; Esther M. and her husband Lowell Haahr of Newell; Paul D. and his wife Carol Laursen of Crawfordsville; 14 grandchildren: Karen Laursen of Avon, Colo.; Philip and Robin Laursen of Muscatine; John F. and Sue Laursen of Rockford, Ill.; Susan Heuer of McHenry, Ill.; Carol Novak of Grayslake, Ill.; Kenneth Laursen of Appleton, Wis.; Carl D. and Cheryl Johnson of Eagle Grove; Kristin and Doug Waugh of Earlham; Rosanne and Roger Brown of Des Moines; Julianne Haahr of Minneapolis, Minn.; Sonia and Kirk Brown of Newell; Sandra Laursen of Boulder, Colo.; Alan and Dana Laursen of Winnipeg, Canada; Annette and Peter Brickley of Hampden, Me.; 15 great-grandchildren: Dustin and Elizabeth; Angelica, Kaitlyn, Casey, Lauren and Brianna; Michelle, Diane, Linda, Allison, Andrew; Graham; Jonah and Kieran; her sisters-in-law, Florence Sand of San Diego, Calif.; Edna Laursen of Mesa, Ariz.; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends; special friends Carol and Duane Kropf of Kimballton.

Funeral services were conducted by Pastor Steven Frock on Monday, Dec. 10, 2001 at Brayton Lutheran Church in Brayton. Interment was in Oak Hill Cemetery west of Brayton. Casketbearers were Alan P. Laursen, John F. Laursen, Kenneth R. Laursen, Philip M. Laursen, Carl D. Johnson, Kirk B. Brown, Roger K. Brown, Douglas D. Waugh, Rodney Kropf and Jeff Nelson. Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon was in charge of arrangements.