Ardeth (Jenison) PAULE LAAKE

LAAKE, JENISON, SANDBURG, HOLTZMAN, SCHNELL, KRABBE, PAULE, HUISINGA, NGUYEN, VAKNIN, WILLIAMS, DAY

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 10/23/2009 at 10:28:50

Ardeth Laake, 81, died Sunday, October 11, 2009 at her home in Belmond. Mass of Christian Burial was held October 15 at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Belmond. Interment was in the St. Francis Catholic Cemetery near Belmond.

Ardeth Jenison was born September 11, 1928 to Earl and Hazel Sandburg Jenison on the family farm north of Belmond. She was educated in country school through the eighth grade and graduated from Belmond High School in 1946. In 1949 she graduated from Iowa Methodist School of Nursing, achieving a childhood dream to become a registered nurse. Her early positions included psychiatric nursing and caring for premature babies in the St. Louis area. In 1957 she returned to Belmond and worked at the Steele Memorial Clinic until 1963 when she became the school nurse at Belmond Community School until 1981. Raising four children alone, she needed to supplement her income, so she worked weekends at the Belmond Community Hospital where she also took obstetrical calls at night. She often said that witnessing the miracle of birth was her favorite part of nursing, assisting hundreds of mothers to bring new life into the world. In 1972 she married her best friend, Belmond businessman Walter Laake. Their blended family included ten children. Ardeth and Walt enjoyed fishing in Canada, going to girls basketball games, gardening, and spending time with family and friends. Ardeth's contributions included helping to start the Belmond Ambulance Service in 1972. She taught the first class of ambulance volunteers, and served with them, rescuing injured people from car accidents and other situations. Knitting and embroidery were favorite activities for Ardeth. Upon her retirement she became interested in quilting. She hand-pieced and quilted over 100 quilts, the complicated "Baltimore Album" style being her specialty. Ardeth was recognized nationally as a master quilter. She also helped sew costumes for the Iowa River Players. Ardeth never took the easy way, never did anything part way, and always gave her best.

She was preceded in death by her husband Walt; twin brother Arnold; brothers George and Robert; step daughter Haggi (Elizabeth Laake) Holtzman; step son Jos Laake; grandson Joey Laake; and son-in-law Steve Schnell. She is survived by her children Luanne Paule (Cal) Krabbe, Kathy Paule Schnell, Nancy Paule Huisinga and David Paule; stepchildren Michael (DJ) Laake, Henry Laake, Teresa Laake (Dung) Nguyen, and Maria Laake (Ami) Vaknin; grandchildren Andrew Christian Williams, Daniel Krabbe, Suzanne Schnell, Kaitlyn, Kelly and Samuel Huisinga, Alan, Christopher and Paul Laake, Laura (Nate) McVey, Jessie, Jennifer and Julia Laake, Anthony, Alexander and Benjamin Nguyen, Noam, Shachar, Lior and Micah Holtzman, and Moti, Lianna, Tori and Hila Vaknin; brother Leland (Norma Jeanne) Jenison; and sister Elna (Gary) Day.

October 20, 2009
Belmond Independent - Iowa