Laurel Jean Parker

Well, if you don't know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you'll never meet my sweet sister, Laurel Parker, in Heaven. She entered into the very presence of God on October 18. I was blessed to be her caregiver for months, because even though I was four years older than her, we were always best friends. She was born February 9, 1947, and I remember the night our parents, Melvin and Marion Pope, brought her home. She was so special, that little one. We grew up in Oshkosh where she attended Wisconsin State University, now UW-O and became an English teacher. After several years, she moved to the East Coast where she stayed for the remaining years of her life. There she entered the insurance business where she became a claims adjuster specializing in trucking accidents. She was sent to testify in court in several states, and she also taught claim adjusting seminars. Meanwhile, she and I talked weekly and kept up with each other's life.

Laurel loved to dance and so did Michael, her husband. They were quite a sharp looking couple on the dance floor. Later in life, she danced to Christian music praising the Lord in the privacy of her home. Her passions in life included her church, pastel painting, and tennis which she played until age 74. She was a gifted artist but said that she felt her greatest accomplishment was not art, but leading adult Bible Study Classes. Laurel's love of God allowed her to bring the Bible to life in ways that touched many people with a passion that shown in all she did.

In February of 2025, knowing something was wrong but never getting an accurate diagnosis, she was found to have stage 4 lung cancer. She made the decision not to battle it. In August she sold her lovely home and moved in with my husband and me in Omro, Wisconsin. Leaving all her dear friends from church and the neighborhood was hard for her but she knew she had to get back to family. Suffering from cancer, she never questioned her faith and instead grew closer to her Lord.

She leaves behind me, Judith Pope Weiss and husband, David; nephews, Aaron and Suzanne, Daniel and Krista and a niece, Rebekah Sell and Andrew. Also, there are my 13 grandchildren who loved her and called her "Auntie." A Celebration of Life will be held at the Eureka Church on November 16 from 1pm to 2pm for visitation followed by a small service and fellowship. We are assured in the Bible that we who have chosen Jesus will be reunited with our loved ones in a place that is eternal where no one can conceive the beauty, serenity and love that awaits us. Will YOU be there?