Donald L. "Don" Lauritzen

CAMANCHE — Donald L. "Don" Lauritzen, age 79, of Camanche, Iowa, died Sunday, October 4, 2009, at Mercy Medical Center North in Clinton. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 8th, at the Pape Funeral Home in Clinton. Visitation will be from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Clinton Lawn Cemetery. Casket bearers will be Jim and John Lauritzen, Rick Riley, Ben Lauritzen, Bob Dornbush, Jeff Harmon, David Schroeder. Honorary casket bearers will be Virgil Buntemeyer, Charlie Dose and his grandchildren and stepgrandchildren. Don was born in Clinton on June 18, 1930, the son of Robert and Mattie Morhman Lauritzen. He married Arlene Sowards on September 8, 1951, in Orangeville, IL. He later married Helen Lorenzen Kroymann on January 4, 1986, in Clinton. Don served with the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Don worked for the Curtis Company, then spent 30 years with Allied Structural Steel until they closed. He later was employed with Clausen Companies. He was a member of the Miles American Legion, Andover Lions Club and the ROMEO (Retired Old Men Eating Out) Club in Arizona. Don enjoyed his mornings at Sweetheart Bakery and the Lyons Filling Station, watching his grandchildren's games, fishing and following the Iowa Hawkeyes. Don is survived by his wife, Helen; a son, Jay (Joan) Lauritzen of Clinton; a daughter, Sara (Troy) Crigger of Camanche; six grandchildren, Ben, Jake and Mitch Lauritzen and Jensen, Baylor and Emerson Crigger; six stepchildren, David (Sandy) Kroymann of Low Moor, Jim (Robin) Kroymann of Clinton, Dorinda (Dave) Moens and Angela (Kevin) Shepherd of Phoenix, AZ, Steve (Angela) Kroymann of Omaha, NB, and Daniel (Jen) Kroymann of Olathe, KS; two stepsons-in-law, Dan Neave and Jamie Slayden; 16 stepgrandchildren; 11 stepgreat grandchildren; a sister, Diane (Vernon) Dornbush of Fulton; a sister-in-law, Jean Lauritzen of Clinton; his first wife, Arlene Morris of Camanche and his best buddy "Eddie."Don was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Dawn; a son, Scott; two stepdaughters, Pam Naeve and Sandy Slayden; a stepgranddaughter, Jennifer Kroymann; and two brothers. Memorials may be made to Camp Courageous or the Andover Lions Club. Online condolences may be left at www.papefh.com. Death date: Oct. 4, 2009#