Laurine Van Laarhoven

Laurine J. Van Laarhoven, age 92, passed quietly the morning of January 4, 2016. Her residence at the time was the Gardens of Fountain Way Assisted Living facility in Menasha, Wisconsin. The cause of her death was due to complications of advanced age. Laurine was born October 7, 1923 to Edward and Christine Schmidt (nee Vandenberg) in the town of Allouez, Wisconsin. She attended grade school there, and graduated from high school at Green Bay East High. Before marrying Joe, Laurine was employed locally as a clerk/bookkeeper. On October 3, 1953, Laurine was married to Joseph J. Van Laarhoven at the Church of St Matthew. Joseph was active duty enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, and his service took them as far away as the island of Okinawa (Kadena A.F.B.). Laurine flourished as the wife of an Airman, and Joe and Laurine had five children. Joe passed early, and Laurine did not re-marry. Alone, she cared for five children and her ailing mother, Christine. Laurine’s main hobby, and a sacred solace to her, was outdoor gardening. She was very proficient at it, and she carried the memories of gardening well into the end years of her life. Laurine was a devout Catholic, and this sustained her through life as well. She was active for many years as a volunteer in the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and at St. Philip the Apostle Church. Laurine is survived by sons Peter, Paul, Michael and John; and her daughter Mary Bell. She has three grandchildren by her son Michael (and Mary K. Rothbauer); Jessica (mother of great grandchildren Kayne and Rayna), Jennifer (mother of great grandsons Amadeus and Alex), and Anne. She has two grandchildren by her son John Van Laarhoven, daughters Carly and Joely. Finally, Laurine is survived by her granddaughter Aymee (daughter of Mary Bell) and two great grandchildren, Brooklynn and Jayden. Laurine is preceded in death by her husband, Joseph (Sept.29, 1963) and her brothers, Carl and Don Schmidt. Visitation for Laurine will be at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church, 130 St. Matthew St, Allouez, on Tuesday, January 12, 2016 from 10:00 A.M. until 10:45 A.M. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Father Bob Kabat beginning at 11:00 A.M. Cotter Funeral Home is in charge of funeral arrangements (920-336-8702). Laurine will be laid to rest beside her loving husband at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, with immediate family in attendance only. Special thanks from the family are extended to the skilled staff at the Gardens of Fountain Way and the hospice nurses with Theda Care at Home for their gentle and dignified care; Cotter Funeral Home for its thoroughness and dignity and to the clergy and staff at St. Matthew’s for the care of our mother’s eternal soul.

Reception:
St. Matthew Catholic Church
2575 S Webster Ave
Green Bay, WI 54301