Marjorie "Marge" E. Laue

Marjorie Elaine Laue, 85, Greenleaf, died September 20, 2023 at her home.

Visitation was Thursday, September 28, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Ward Funeral Home in Washington. The family received friends from 5 to 7 p.m. 

A funeral service was at 10:30 a.m., Friday, September 29, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Greenleaf.

Burial followed in the Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery, Greenleaf, Kansas

Marge was born on May 20, 1938 in Duluth, MN to Helen (Nurminen) Carlson and Charles A.  Carlson.  She was baptized May 24 and confirmed May 25, 1952, at Messiah Lutheran Church in Duluth.  She attended Central HS while also working summer camps and at a department store.

In 1955, a young Kansas farm boy, newly enlisted in the U.S. Air Force was stationed in Duluth.  Marge was set up on a date by a friend with Roland “Roly” Laue.  They married later that year on Oct 9, 1955.  Their service was conducted at Roland’s home church, Bethlehem Lutheran near Greenleaf by Pastor Heckman.

Marge followed her husband to almost all tour of duty bases.  At Duluth, they welcomed two children, Rolanda (Lana) in 1956 and Lonnie in 1957.  At Scott AFB near Bellville, IL a second daughter Michele was born.  Next was a move to Bentwaters AFB in England where their third daughter Marcella (Marcy) was born.  From England the family moved to George AFB in California.  Marge assisted many new airman’s wives in their roles of being married to an airman, while raising 4 children.

At their final base, McConnel AFB, Wichita, Kansas, she completed her GED after all her children started school.  She then started her dream of becoming a nurse and earned her LPN from the Wichita Practical Nursing Program in 1972.

Roly retired from the Air Force in 1973 and the family moved to Roly’s hometown of Greenleaf.  They felt at home, as Marge and the children lived there while Roly was stationed in Okinawa in 1959 and in Thailand in 1968.  Having his parents nearby was also a plus.

Marge began working at the Linn Community Nursing Home.  She soon realized a calling to higher levels of nursing and enrolled at Cloud County Community College.  In May 1979 she graduated with an associate degree in nursing, as an RN.  She took her state boards that year with her daughter Lana.  After obtaining her RN, she began a long career at Washington County hospital, retiring in 2000.  Marge was proud to be a nurse and loved the people she helped.   Her legacy and devotion to caring and nursing was carried on by her daughters and one granddaughter, Alyse.

Marge loved her Finnish heritage and animals especially her cats. Marge and Roly were also involved in bowling, softball, and active members of Bethlehem Lutheran Church.

She is preceded in death by husband Roland; mother Helen Nurminen Anderson; step father, Arthur Anderson; father Charles A. Carlson; brother Ronald Carlson; sister Gloria Pearson; brother-in-laws; Hans Miller and Don Black; sister-in-laws, Vyonne Rumpf and Delores Black.

Survivors include sister Helen Miller of Owatonna MN, brother-in-law John D. Laue of Arlington Heights, Ill,,  Ed Pearson of Cloquet, MN and Rich Rumpf of Rogers, AR.   daughter Lana (Matt)  Griffin from Scottsdale, AZ--their daughter Dawn (Erik) Turnrose,  daughter Nicole (Matt) McDonald, and son Jesse (Sylvia) Griffin,  Son Lonnie (Becky) Laue of Colleyville, TX--their son Philip (Christy) Laue, daughter Elizabeth (Brooks) Allen, and daughter Caroline (Ethan) Hinson,  daughter Michele (Tim) Voelker, Greenleaf, KS--their daughter Alyse (Darin) Rothlisberger and son Micheal (Kadie) Voelker, daughter Marcella (Marcy) Laue,  her daughter Zaina (Marcus) Juracek, and Elaina (Eric Pinsky) Mayer; and 15 great grandchildren, several nieces and nephews, half brothers and sisters.

The family would like to especially thank long time caregiver and friend Brooke Rosebaugh and Dr. David Hodgson a provider, mentor, and friend.

A memorial fund is established to Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Washington County Hospital, Wayside Waifs of Grandview, MO. or American Cancer Society.  Contributions may be sent in care of Ward Funeral Home, Washington.