Laura
Laura was born April 20th,1938 daughter of George and Rosena Kinsel in West Union, Iowa. She grew up on farms as they worked them selves up to better and bigger farms. They moved from West Union to Denver Ia. on an 80 acre farm. She attended a country school first, but they said she was too young to start. She then rode a bus to Janesville school and could remember feeling so alone and shy and she sat on the front steps and cried. She remembers a teacher saying the difference between kids and grown ups was that adults knew that if they didn't do what they had to do it wouldn't get done.
The family then moved to Dunkerton. It was a 220 acre farm. Everyone told her she was so shy but after being there a while and getting to know the kids they changed their mind. Carl, Diane and Laura rode the bus and went to school there together. She loved to fish and use to go with her dad to a bullhead pond. One field was 100 acres. The Wapsipinican River ran through a corner of that farm. Carl graduated from Dunkerton. Their next move was to Sumner on 80 acres. Diane stayed with friends at Dunkerton so she could graduate with her class there. Laura walked and went to a one room country school until graduating from the 8th grade. Graduation was held for all the country school 8th graders in surrounding areas in West Union where she was born. Then she rode the bus to high school in Sumner. While at Sumner Carl left for the service and Diane after graduating from Dunkerton came home. Diane and Laura would attend movies at Sumner when we got up enough nerve to ask Dad to take us.
Another move, this time brother Orville talked my Dad into going into farming with them in Boyceville, Wis. Another school and new kids for Laura to get acquainted with. She did get to know a lot of people that way
though. She started there in her sophomore year. She from little up always wanted to be a teacher. Math, algebra, and chemistry were her favorite subjects. Her teachers helped her work toward the goal of going to college. She earned a scholarship to Wis. State College in EauClaire, Wis. Working in The Blue Gold Room, a snack bar she made it through her freshman year. Her sister, Diane left for the service after moving to
Wis. In the service she went to Basic Training in Alabama, on to Maryland, and eventually to France and Germany until back in the states.
Laura's parents moved back to Iowa that year she was in college to Hazelton, Ia. So Laura moved back to Iowa, too, to be near relatives.
She stayed home a short time and then moved to Waterloo, Ia to try to find work. It took along time, but finally started working in the office at Black's Dept. Store at minumim wage, $1.00 per hour. That wasn't enough to get her back to college. Another girl she worked with at Black's and her applied at Collins Radio in Cedar Rapids. They got on and thought they were making big money, $1.38 per hr. They were laid off, she got a job at Schukie Chev. in W'loo detailing cars. These jobs were hardly enough to return to college. She eventually gave that up. She was called back to Collins Radio.
In the mean time she learned dancing, attending many of them in Janesville and Cedar Rapids. She skated a few times, enjoyed life and never really got bored.
More importantly of all was being asked by a friend in W'loo to start some christian classes in Evansdale. This she always wanted to do, but seems she never got there before. She was baptized and confirmed at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church.
She continued working at Collins Radio mostly working in the printed circuit area soldering parts on boards. She took tests to become an inspecter on printed circuit boards. She met many new friends there. One day one asked if I would like to go with a guy that worked with her husband to the stock car races in W'loo, also another couple of friends were going with them. Hesitantly she said ok. They met at the friends house and this guy pulled up in a very pretty '62 chevy convertible. However, she didn't like the personality and scuffed shoes so well. The races were fun.
She lived in a small room by Coe College with no phone. Arnie, the blind date, kept showing up each night. She said she didn't like that very well what if she wanted to go out with someone else or something. He said well you don't have a phone so I can't call. She said how about planning ahead. That didn't seem to work. He seemed insistant and asked if she would marry him. It took a while she finally said yes and received a ring on Christmas. Sept. 7th, 1963, the following year, they were married at the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Evansdale. He was a salesperson and delivered bread. The job didn't pay much and the hours were long. Laura talked him into applying at Collins. She worked there for 6 years and quit when their first son was born. He continued to work there until retiring.
They had 2 sons, Brian and Darrin, When Darrin was in 3rd grade and Brian in 5th. Laura looked for a job that would give her a chance to be home during the times when the boys were not in school. This job turned
out to be a Cedar Rapids School Bus Driver. First the job was just an am route and then an am and pm and then soon a noon route was added. She use to lay awake worrying about the street conditions in the morning.
She found out that did no good. So she just went to bed and went to sleep. She went good or bad weather. For 24 years she made it through. Sometimes wondering though what is a nice girl doing in a place like this.
It was pretty scary sometimes when the back end of those buses started to turn around or sliding where you didn't want them to go. She liked the smaller buses, but found out some of the 48 passenger transit buses were easier to drive and smoother driving than the smaller. She enjoyed the students, teachers, co-workers and really missed the job when quitting. It was hard the last day when retiring. Leaving the people and the bus. Parking it for the last time. One regret she wished she had written a diary.
Life was hard at different times in her life. She was a caretaker for her Mom, sister Diane, brother Orville, sister Faye, helped with brother Carl: Mom was in a nursing home in Independence for 2 1/2 years. She drove there every Sat. , but 2. Took care of the burial, selling the house and auctioning the belongings. Brother Carl was in New Mexico with cancer and Diane assisted with his death, Sister Diane was in SanFrancisco with cancer. Went out and moved her back to Iowa. Took care of her and her necessities, Brother Orville had kidney failure was on dialysis for 16 years living in Waterloo mostly on his own until last with Faye living there and helping him out, Faye was in a nursing home in W'loo for 16 years. Took care of her needs since Mom passed away. Growing very close to her as that saying goes. she was the only one Faye had. Faye was a twin and her twin, Fern died at 2 weeks old. Laura had another sister, Juanita(Dolly). She was told she had encephalitis when she was 2 years old which caused a swelling of the brain and she ended up with epilepsy. Laura was awfully close to her growing up too, but Faye was mostly her caretaker along with her mother.They said she was very intelligent before the disease happened. She fell and hit the back of her neck. She was paralized from the neck down. Mom took care of her. She died in 1974. Laura's 2 older sisters married and had children. Laura praised and thanked the good Lord that she could and was able to take care of her siblings. There was no question in her mind. It was something she had to do and did it.
The hardest was losing a son,especially when it was needlessly and a wicked most cruel murder by whose hand they have never found out. It has been 24 years. Sept.8, 2013 and this mother remembers every bit of
what he looked like, things he said, his actions because her thoughts of him have never left her for a day. The only thing she has to hold on to is "Brian, she is going to see you again when the Lord takes her home."
Praise the Lord what helps is that she has another son that she loves very much. He doesn't take his place and he can't that's not what is expected. He is his own person. God be with Darrin and Angie and walk with them.
Another bad time besides the times before with Arnie's heart attacks.
In Feb.2013, Arnie became ill and very weak. We took him to em
emergency and his heart would race and when walking was very weak. The doctors were sending him home. Laura begged them to keep him. What if he collapsed at home. He spent 4 days at home worked on his computer in the basement and knew what he was doing. However, he didn't eat
until the 4th night. Walked around most of those days with either a cane
or a walker. Will continue later.
Arnie and Laurie are celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Sept. 7, 2013.
The family then moved to Dunkerton. It was a 220 acre farm. Everyone told her she was so shy but after being there a while and getting to know the kids they changed their mind. Carl, Diane and Laura rode the bus and went to school there together. She loved to fish and use to go with her dad to a bullhead pond. One field was 100 acres. The Wapsipinican River ran through a corner of that farm. Carl graduated from Dunkerton. Their next move was to Sumner on 80 acres. Diane stayed with friends at Dunkerton so she could graduate with her class there. Laura walked and went to a one room country school until graduating from the 8th grade. Graduation was held for all the country school 8th graders in surrounding areas in West Union where she was born. Then she rode the bus to high school in Sumner. While at Sumner Carl left for the service and Diane after graduating from Dunkerton came home. Diane and Laura would attend movies at Sumner when we got up enough nerve to ask Dad to take us.
Another move, this time brother Orville talked my Dad into going into farming with them in Boyceville, Wis. Another school and new kids for Laura to get acquainted with. She did get to know a lot of people that way
though. She started there in her sophomore year. She from little up always wanted to be a teacher. Math, algebra, and chemistry were her favorite subjects. Her teachers helped her work toward the goal of going to college. She earned a scholarship to Wis. State College in EauClaire, Wis. Working in The Blue Gold Room, a snack bar she made it through her freshman year. Her sister, Diane left for the service after moving to
Wis. In the service she went to Basic Training in Alabama, on to Maryland, and eventually to France and Germany until back in the states.
Laura's parents moved back to Iowa that year she was in college to Hazelton, Ia. So Laura moved back to Iowa, too, to be near relatives.
She stayed home a short time and then moved to Waterloo, Ia to try to find work. It took along time, but finally started working in the office at Black's Dept. Store at minumim wage, $1.00 per hour. That wasn't enough to get her back to college. Another girl she worked with at Black's and her applied at Collins Radio in Cedar Rapids. They got on and thought they were making big money, $1.38 per hr. They were laid off, she got a job at Schukie Chev. in W'loo detailing cars. These jobs were hardly enough to return to college. She eventually gave that up. She was called back to Collins Radio.
In the mean time she learned dancing, attending many of them in Janesville and Cedar Rapids. She skated a few times, enjoyed life and never really got bored.
More importantly of all was being asked by a friend in W'loo to start some christian classes in Evansdale. This she always wanted to do, but seems she never got there before. She was baptized and confirmed at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church.
She continued working at Collins Radio mostly working in the printed circuit area soldering parts on boards. She took tests to become an inspecter on printed circuit boards. She met many new friends there. One day one asked if I would like to go with a guy that worked with her husband to the stock car races in W'loo, also another couple of friends were going with them. Hesitantly she said ok. They met at the friends house and this guy pulled up in a very pretty '62 chevy convertible. However, she didn't like the personality and scuffed shoes so well. The races were fun.
She lived in a small room by Coe College with no phone. Arnie, the blind date, kept showing up each night. She said she didn't like that very well what if she wanted to go out with someone else or something. He said well you don't have a phone so I can't call. She said how about planning ahead. That didn't seem to work. He seemed insistant and asked if she would marry him. It took a while she finally said yes and received a ring on Christmas. Sept. 7th, 1963, the following year, they were married at the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Evansdale. He was a salesperson and delivered bread. The job didn't pay much and the hours were long. Laura talked him into applying at Collins. She worked there for 6 years and quit when their first son was born. He continued to work there until retiring.
They had 2 sons, Brian and Darrin, When Darrin was in 3rd grade and Brian in 5th. Laura looked for a job that would give her a chance to be home during the times when the boys were not in school. This job turned
out to be a Cedar Rapids School Bus Driver. First the job was just an am route and then an am and pm and then soon a noon route was added. She use to lay awake worrying about the street conditions in the morning.
She found out that did no good. So she just went to bed and went to sleep. She went good or bad weather. For 24 years she made it through. Sometimes wondering though what is a nice girl doing in a place like this.
It was pretty scary sometimes when the back end of those buses started to turn around or sliding where you didn't want them to go. She liked the smaller buses, but found out some of the 48 passenger transit buses were easier to drive and smoother driving than the smaller. She enjoyed the students, teachers, co-workers and really missed the job when quitting. It was hard the last day when retiring. Leaving the people and the bus. Parking it for the last time. One regret she wished she had written a diary.
Life was hard at different times in her life. She was a caretaker for her Mom, sister Diane, brother Orville, sister Faye, helped with brother Carl: Mom was in a nursing home in Independence for 2 1/2 years. She drove there every Sat. , but 2. Took care of the burial, selling the house and auctioning the belongings. Brother Carl was in New Mexico with cancer and Diane assisted with his death, Sister Diane was in SanFrancisco with cancer. Went out and moved her back to Iowa. Took care of her and her necessities, Brother Orville had kidney failure was on dialysis for 16 years living in Waterloo mostly on his own until last with Faye living there and helping him out, Faye was in a nursing home in W'loo for 16 years. Took care of her needs since Mom passed away. Growing very close to her as that saying goes. she was the only one Faye had. Faye was a twin and her twin, Fern died at 2 weeks old. Laura had another sister, Juanita(Dolly). She was told she had encephalitis when she was 2 years old which caused a swelling of the brain and she ended up with epilepsy. Laura was awfully close to her growing up too, but Faye was mostly her caretaker along with her mother.They said she was very intelligent before the disease happened. She fell and hit the back of her neck. She was paralized from the neck down. Mom took care of her. She died in 1974. Laura's 2 older sisters married and had children. Laura praised and thanked the good Lord that she could and was able to take care of her siblings. There was no question in her mind. It was something she had to do and did it.
The hardest was losing a son,especially when it was needlessly and a wicked most cruel murder by whose hand they have never found out. It has been 24 years. Sept.8, 2013 and this mother remembers every bit of
what he looked like, things he said, his actions because her thoughts of him have never left her for a day. The only thing she has to hold on to is "Brian, she is going to see you again when the Lord takes her home."
Praise the Lord what helps is that she has another son that she loves very much. He doesn't take his place and he can't that's not what is expected. He is his own person. God be with Darrin and Angie and walk with them.
Another bad time besides the times before with Arnie's heart attacks.
In Feb.2013, Arnie became ill and very weak. We took him to em
emergency and his heart would race and when walking was very weak. The doctors were sending him home. Laura begged them to keep him. What if he collapsed at home. He spent 4 days at home worked on his computer in the basement and knew what he was doing. However, he didn't eat
until the 4th night. Walked around most of those days with either a cane
or a walker. Will continue later.
Arnie and Laurie are celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Sept. 7, 2013.
Arnold has a song that he would like to dedicate to Laura Click
Here to listen to it.
A Poem From Arnold for Laura
A Gift From God
© Dino
So young, so fresh, so new
The Love and Passion I
felt for you.
I loved you so and you said yes
A gift from God, I was
blessed
A beautiful woman with a heart so true
The Love and Passion I
still feel for you
Throughout the pregnancies as you carried our two sons
A gift
from God, I’m the lucky one
A wonderful Mother and Wife
The Love and
Passion for all my life
A gift from God you truly are
A blessing from
above to the luckiest man by far
Source: A Wonderful Mother and Wife, Wife Poem http://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/a-wonderful-mother-and-wife#ixzz2981pQTnK
www.FamilyFriendPoems.com
The Love and Passion I
felt for you.
I loved you so and you said yes
A gift from God, I was
blessed
A beautiful woman with a heart so true
The Love and Passion I
still feel for you
Throughout the pregnancies as you carried our two sons
A gift
from God, I’m the lucky one
A wonderful Mother and Wife
The Love and
Passion for all my life
A gift from God you truly are
A blessing from
above to the luckiest man by far
Source: A Wonderful Mother and Wife, Wife Poem http://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/a-wonderful-mother-and-wife#ixzz2981pQTnK
www.FamilyFriendPoems.com
And A Song For Laura From Arnold
Laura's Family
Little Laura
Today's Laura
Through Rain Or Snow Or Sleat Or Hail, The Children All Got Home !!!
Retirmemt Day
A Little Fun Along The Way
Arnold has a couple songs that he likes and plays them often thinking of Laura.
Being the Best Wife & Mother
My prayer is that I can be the best wife and mother I can be. A task that would be easier if I had a Ken Barbie husband and children who lived at Super Nanny’s house, but the reality is, I am not perfect and neither are they. I have to keep my head in check and focus so I can love my family as much as they deserved to be loved despite our big ball of imperfections. Today I’d prefer not to focus on what our family needs to change, but rather how to work on ourselves.
It isn’t about what others can do to make my life more manageable, but what can I do in my current situation that will bring glory to God.
Do things without Complaining
We wake up tired. Kids start complaining, and we want to complain back. Don’t they realize how good they have it? Then we hear our Father in Heaven say, ”Don’t you realize how good you have it?”
Do Everything without complaining or arguing.
Philippians 2:14
Have patience
We are late for an activity again. One would think an hour prep time would be enough to get everyone ready, but alas it’s not. Have patience with your toddler because he is so much more important than anything you are running to.
Slow to anger.
Abounding in love.You and your husband are disagreeing. It’s funny how opposites attract. Isn’t it? Why can’t he just see it my way? God says, “is it worth fighting about?” Isn’t your husband worth more than a petty argument. I can still remember one of our first married arguments, *err discussions* about if the salt and pepper should go on the table or the stove. Silly, huh?
The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.
Psalm 103:8
Embrace change, go with the flow.
Sometimes we aren’t going to be able to do everything on our “to do list”, and that is ok. Pray that God guides your path so you can finish the things that need to get done. Everything else is just the cherry on top. Kids are more important than our focused agendas.
Cast your burdens upon Christ
Feeling tired, lonely, drained? Tell Christ about it. He doesn’t want us to feel that way. He wants our cup to overflow with joy and peace through the turmoil so we can point to God and say, “Thank you Lord! I can not do this on my own, but You are the peace that passes all understanding.”
Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall.
Psalm 55:22
And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Phillippians 4:7
Our Ministry
Our husband and children are gifts from God. They are part of our ministry here on earth. We can’t truly be used to bless others until we learn how to express love at home, and be thankful for what He has given us.
It’s ok to take five.
Call up a girlfriend and go for some coffee. Although sometimes we feel like superwoman (and we are), it is ok to get recharged. It doesn’t lessen our love for our kids or our husbands. I have to remind myself of this because there is that little voice whispering in our ears that tries to make us feel that if we take some time away from the kids, we are trying to pass off our responsibilities. On the contrary, it allows us to get refreshed so we can be an even better wife and parent.
It isn’t about what others can do to make my life more manageable, but what can I do in my current situation that will bring glory to God.
Do things without Complaining
We wake up tired. Kids start complaining, and we want to complain back. Don’t they realize how good they have it? Then we hear our Father in Heaven say, ”Don’t you realize how good you have it?”
Do Everything without complaining or arguing.
Philippians 2:14
Have patience
We are late for an activity again. One would think an hour prep time would be enough to get everyone ready, but alas it’s not. Have patience with your toddler because he is so much more important than anything you are running to.
Slow to anger.
Abounding in love.You and your husband are disagreeing. It’s funny how opposites attract. Isn’t it? Why can’t he just see it my way? God says, “is it worth fighting about?” Isn’t your husband worth more than a petty argument. I can still remember one of our first married arguments, *err discussions* about if the salt and pepper should go on the table or the stove. Silly, huh?
The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.
Psalm 103:8
Embrace change, go with the flow.
Sometimes we aren’t going to be able to do everything on our “to do list”, and that is ok. Pray that God guides your path so you can finish the things that need to get done. Everything else is just the cherry on top. Kids are more important than our focused agendas.
Cast your burdens upon Christ
Feeling tired, lonely, drained? Tell Christ about it. He doesn’t want us to feel that way. He wants our cup to overflow with joy and peace through the turmoil so we can point to God and say, “Thank you Lord! I can not do this on my own, but You are the peace that passes all understanding.”
Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall.
Psalm 55:22
And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Phillippians 4:7
Our Ministry
Our husband and children are gifts from God. They are part of our ministry here on earth. We can’t truly be used to bless others until we learn how to express love at home, and be thankful for what He has given us.
It’s ok to take five.
Call up a girlfriend and go for some coffee. Although sometimes we feel like superwoman (and we are), it is ok to get recharged. It doesn’t lessen our love for our kids or our husbands. I have to remind myself of this because there is that little voice whispering in our ears that tries to make us feel that if we take some time away from the kids, we are trying to pass off our responsibilities. On the contrary, it allows us to get refreshed so we can be an even better wife and parent.