Gilbert Wayne Lauritsen

           Gilbert Wayne Lauritsen, 83, of Dannebrog died Sunday, July 24, 2016 in Wendover, NV.         

          Memorial services will be held at 7:00 p.m., Friday, August 12, 2016 at Jacobsen-Greenway Funeral Home in St. Paul.  Reverend Sheri Lodel will officiate.  Private family inurnment will be held at a later date. 

          A time to greet the family will be on Friday, August 12 from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

          Memorials are suggested to Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Dannebrog or the Dannebrog Oak Creek Hike and Bike Trail.

          Mr. Lauritsen was born October 18, 1932 in Dannebrog to Gilbert and Alice (Johnson) Lauritsen.

          He graduated from Dannebrog High School in 1950.

          He worked construction and farmed until entering the U.S. Army in 1953.  He was stationed in Berlin, Germany.  Upon his discharge in 1955, he returned to further his education by attending Carlton College, University of Nebraska in Lincoln and Kearney State College where he received his bachelor and masters degree in education.

          Wayne was united in marriage to Jeanette Raftery in Dannebrog on June 9, 1957.

          The couple lived at various locations in Nebraska during summer work and while attending college.  He taught and was the principal at Dannebrog from 1960 until 1967 when he became the principal of the new Centura Junior-Senior High School.

          In 1980 he returned to teaching to allow more time to farm with his brother.  He retired in 1993 to devote full time to farming.

          Wayne was a member of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church and the Mickelsen Larkowski American Legion Post #241 of Dannebrog.  He was a past member of the board of directors of Farmer’s Union Co-op and the Dannebrog Fire Department and was currently a member of the Dannebrog Village Board.

          He was instrumental in the development of the Dannebrog Oak Creek Hike and Bike Trail.

          Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Jeanette of Dannebrog; two daughters and sons-in-law, Annette and Steve Rasmussen of Wayne, NE and Cynthia and Tom Rivera of Omaha; four grandchildren, Josh Rasmussen, Zachary Rasmussen, Michelle Jaffery and her husband Cyrus, and Jordan Rivera; a brother and sister-in-law, Arlan and Erma Lauritsen of Dannebrog; and a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Lonny and Robyn Raftery of Lincoln.

          He is preceded in death by his parents.

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