Lauretta Van Buskirk, 90, of Le Mars, Iowa passed away on Monday, September 17, 2018 at Plymouth Manor Care Center in Le Mars. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. on Friday, September 21, 2018 at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, rural Akron, Iowa. Rev. Lil Johnston will officiate. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 20, 2018 with the family present from 5-7 p.m. and a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. at the Mauer-Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars.

Lauretta Elizabeth Catherine Kruse was born on August 20, 1928 on the family farm in Washington Township, Plymouth County, Iowa, the daughter of Harm D. and Louise (Ahrendt) Kruse. She attended country school near her home and later graduated from Le Mars High School in 1946 after studying Normal Training.
She married William Lowell Van Buskirk on November 29, 1946, at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, rural Akron. They farmed together in Grant Township. She was a country school teacher in Johnson and Grant Townships for several years.

She loved being outdoors, and enjoyed gardening, tending flowers. She raised chickens and helped with all farm chores.

Lauretta was a lifelong member of St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church. She taught Sunday School and played the piano and organ for countless church services, weddings and funerals over 60 years. She loved music and played the piano, organ and accordion. She also sang in the church choir.

She was a resident at Plymouth Manor Care Center since January 2013.

She will be dearly missed by her daughter, Beverly Van Buskirk of Le Mars, Iowa; a brother, Charles Kruse of Le Mars, Iowa; a nephew, Tim and Sherry Kruse; a niece, Linda and Mike Oxley; a great-nephew, TJ Kruse; along with several nieces and nephews; and two sisters-in-law, Carol Van Buskirk and Florence Van Buskirk.

Lauretta was preceded in death by her parents; husband, William on November 9, 1988; a brother and his wife, Leonard and Charlotte Kruse; a great-niece, Lynnae Kruse; two brothers-in-law, Lloyd Van Buskirk and Roland Van Buskirk; and four sisters-in-law, Hazel Newman, Helen Francis, Charlotte Mitchell and Shirley Bockelman.