Lorena R Laschinger
Lorena R. Laschinger, age 91 of Durand, died Monday, October 28, 2013 at the Oakview Care Center in Durand with her family by her side.
Lorena was born on January 14, 1922 on a farm in the Town of Albany, rural Pepin County. She was daughter of John and Amelia (Kohlman) Brantner. Lorena attended elementary school in the Rock Falls area. After eighth grade graduation, she worked outside of her home providing child care services to different families in the community. She also worked in Rock Falls area businesses. In her late teens, Lorena attempted to fulfill a religious vocation to be a nun. Her goal was interrupted by different health concerns that directed her to a new life path. At the age of twenty-one, Lorena decided to move forward with her education and enrolled at Regis High School and graduated four years later. During her time at Regis, she worked at Sacred Heart Hospital. Many of her best memories came from the nuns, priests, co-workers and staff that she worked with daily. Lorena married Robert Laschinger on April 11, 1951, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Mondovi. Lorena and Robert worked the family farm until they retired.
Lorena was an active church member at St. Joseph’s Church in Arkansaw and St. Mary’s Church in Durand. She prepared vestments and altar cloths for various priests, she was a choir member, Altar Society member, group leader, Religious Education Teacher. She served on the Board of Directors for the Durand Deanery Council of Catholic Women, being president of the organization for eight years. She was a Right to Life Advocate; always having a voice and heart for the unborn. In addition, Lorena served on several diocesan boards for the La Crosse Diocese. She also served as president and public education chairman for the Pepin County Unit of the American Cancer Society for over 20 years. Lorena traveled extensively all over the state for these organizations. In her early 60’s, she took Dale Carnegie courses to improve her public speaking and communication skills to be better able to perform her various duties. She volunteered at the Oakview Care Center for over twenty years. In later years, they moved to Durand where she remained the rest of her life.
Lorena is survived by her children; Eugene (Julie) of Verona, Carol (Kevin) Kirk of Eau Claire, Mike (Cheryl) of San Jose, CA, Nancy (Jim Hathaway) Richardson of Arkansaw, Bernice Laschinger of San Jose, CA, Mary Laschinger of Germantown, TN and Patrick (Lynne) of Clemmons, NC, 13 grandchildren, seven great grandchildren, one brother; Raymond (Carol) Brantner of Mondovi, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband; Robert, her son; Terry, one sister; Gladys Flaskrud and two brothers; Bernard and Clarence Brantner.