Orpha M. Laufenberg

 Orpha M. Laufenberg, age 90, of  Lancaster died Saturday, January 17, 2009 at the Lancaster  Care Center. She was born on  January 13, 1919, the daughter of John and Stella (Atkinson) Klarman in  Dubuque, Iowa. Orpha married her sweetheart, Leo Laufenberg on June 6, 1939 in Dubuque, Iowa. They lived most of their lives in the  Lancaster home that Leo built for Orpha and their children. She made a career of being a loving wife and devoted mother. Her family is proud to say that she never retired from this career.

Orpha enjoyed gardening and had a large and bountiful vegetable garden for years. She never drove a car but enjoyed going for rides all around  Grant County. In recent years, she had adventures with her daughters in Minneapolis and Charlotte, NC.

Orpha is survived by her five children: Gerald (Donna) Laufenberg, Larry (Bonnie) Laufenberg, all of Lancaster; Carolyn (Ron) Howell, Fennimore; Linda Swecker, Dubuque, IA; and Susan (Perry) Ahnen, Lancaster; ten grandchildren: Cory, Cara, Sara, Jolyn, Tracy, Angel, Nikki, Jason, Candi and Mac; and twelve great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Leo on May 22, 1994 and her son, Leo Bobie on July 19, 1969.

Funeral services were held at  2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 21, 2009, at the Lancaster  Care Center in Lancaster with Pastor Mark Hoehne officiating. Burial was in  Hillside Cemetery, Lancaster. Family and friends were welcomed from  1:00 p.m. until time of services at the  Care Center.