Carl A. Laufenberg

Carl A. Laufenberg, 86, of Mt. Hope, passed away Monday, August 10, 2020, at Crossing Rivers Health in Prairie du Chien, after a wonderful life. 

Carl was one of eight children, born on May 18, 1934, to William and Leona (Wood) Laufenberg in Beetown Township. He received his education through early high school when he left to help on the family farm. 

He married Belva J. Ward on June 28, 1954, at St. Lawrence O’Toole Catholic Church in Mt. Hope. Together, they raised four daughters, Vickie, Betty, Sharon, and Ruth. He was ever so proud to be the father of all girls. 

Carl was employed by People’s Telephone Company in various positions, starting at a young age and working until he was 64, retiring from TDS Telephone Company in 1998. He began a lifetime of volunteering with the Mt. Hope Fire Department, when he was 21 years old. He resigned at age 81, having dedicated 60 years to the department, including 25 years as chief. He was honored, yet humble, to hold that role in the community. He was also a volunteer with the West Grant Lions Club for many years and served as a member of the St. Lawrence O’Toole church board. He was happy to be there whenever his family or community needed something. 

While raising the family, Carl devoted time to the Mt. Hope Ball Park. He worked hard to maintain the park and keep softball alive, including as an umpire. Carl was also an avid hunter of deer and small game, collector of guns and tools, lover of John Deere and Farmall tractors and old scooters. He cleaned his collections meticulously and was happy to share them with family and friends. He enjoyed teaching his girls and grandchildren to ride bicycles and instilled in them the importance of taking care of them. This carried over into their vehicles, which were regularly washed by hand. 

Carl and Belva loved to go out to eat together and travel when they could. As their family grew, they enjoyed family breakfasts every Sunday and gatherings for birthdays. They were strong in their faith and relied on it to carry them through life’s challenges. 

For the last eight years, Carl has enjoyed spending time with his sweetheart, Virginia Ward. They especially loved dancing together at Huckleberry’s. 

Carl worked hard his whole life and humbly enjoyed the simple things. Some of his kids’ and grandkids’ fondest memories were hunting with him and listening to his stories. He was quite the joker and enjoyed a quiet laugh whenever somebody involved him in a good prank. Family was his pride and joy, and his legacy. 

Carl is survived by his daughters, Vickie (Greg) Heiar, of Berlin, and Sharon Morgan (Todd Yeomans), and Ruth (Thad) McIntosh, both of Prairie du Chien; grandchildren, Nick Morgan, Correne (Randy) Martin, Miranda (Jermicah) Jackson, Doug Heiar (DaNae West); Kylie (Neil) Gross and Devin (Emily) McIntosh; great-grandchildren, Anton and Joselynn Jackson, Trace and Gwen Martin, Hadley, Harlow and Henli Gross. He is further survived by his siblings, Doris Krogman, of Prairie du Chien, Carolyn Keeney and Leroy Laufenberg, of Mt. Hope, Joanne (Mike) Carroll, of McGregor; sister-in-law, Irene Ferris, of Madison; his special friend, Virginia Ward, of Bloomington; and many nieces and nephews. 

Carl was preceded in death by his wife, Belva, in 2012; daughter, Betty, in 1972; parents, William and Leona; sisters, Marjorie (Junior) Miller and Arlene (Elwood) Stoeffler; brother, Lee (Rosemary) Laufenberg; brothers-in-law, Chuck Krogman, Ed Keeney, Donald Ferris, and Earl Ward; sisters-in-law, Ardith Laufenberg, Marion Gilstrap, and Doris Stanfley. 

A Mass of Christian Burial and Fireman’s Service was held Friday, Aug. 14, at 10:30 a.m. at St. John’s Catholic Church in Patch Grove with Father John Meinholz officiating. Burial will be at St. Lawrence O’Toole Cemetery, Mt. Hope. Family and friends could call on Thursday, Aug. 13, from 4 until 7 p.m. at St. John’s Catholic Church and on Friday from 9:30 a.m. until time of services. The Martin Schwartz Funeral Home and Crematory, in Bloomington, is assisting the family. 

Your life, your words, your touch have influenced our lives in such positive ways. In the tender places of our hearts, you have created a haven of love, refuge, and security...and that’s worth all the earthly treasures money could buy. 

“Goodbye for now!”