David E. Lansrude.....1942/2004

(Written by his sister, Lois Lansrude Prochaska (CLHS1963) and submitted by Don Finer).

Soon after High school Dave joined the service and ended up in Army Intelligence. He spent much of the next three years in Germany but could never say exactly where he was or what he was doing.....because then he would have had to kill you! LOL! After serving his country he came back home to the Lake.

Dave always had an eye for detail and was a great amateur artist. With this goal in mind, after completing a year at Mason City J.C. he went on to Houston, Texas with an idea of becoming an Architect. A upper classman, Jerry Clapsaddle, had encouraged Dave to do this....and indeed they roomed together while going to school there (University of Houston). As in the case with many of us, his interests changed, and after a year of working for the city of Houston planning department as a draftsman he went on to get a degree in Finance while working for Getty Oil. He stayed in that position as a financial planner for 33 years..... even after the company was bought out by Texaco.

Dave met Mary in Houston. They were neighbors in the same apartment complex and soon fell in love and were married in 1968. They had three children....Laurie, the eldest, next came John and then Brian born in 1972. Dave was involved in music much of his life, playing the trombone in school, singing in the church choirs, and Mary.... also, is an accomplished soprano. Dave enjoyed sailboating on Lake Livingston near Houston and was a crossword puzzle aficionado.

David Endre Lansrud, Houston, Texas, much-loved husband, father and grandfather, went home to be with Jesus on July 27, 2004, after a long courageous battle with emphysema.

Graveside services were held on Saturday, July 31, at Hollywood Cemetery, Houston. Pat H. Foley Funeral Directors, Houston, were in charge of arrangements.

David was born in Mason City, Iowa. Among other family members, he is survived by a sister, Barbara Roth, Mason City.

Memories of Dave

I first remember seeing "Lansrude" (we all called each other by our last names then) when I was 8 years old. He had just moved from Mason City and was in Miss Door's third grade classroom. I remember thinking, "who is this guy"? Well it turned out he had moved into Dr. Brownstone's old home on North 12th Street, just down the street from me, so I was bound to meet him walking to and from school. I think it probably took about four minutes...heading home the first day....and we were best buddies! I found him to be someone to look up to, to trust.... knowing he always had my back.

One of my favorite memories of Dave was a night in the school (Central) upstairs study hall/auditorium where we and our parents and about 20 or 30 other kids and their parents had gone to pick out new musical instruments, I believe we were in the fourth grade and I'm certain that Mr. Wangberg was the new Band Instructor. I had my sights set on getting a brand new trumpet and I thought that Dave was thinking along the same lines. I soon saw him eyeing the trombones and then finally deciding on that. Well......that's all it took, and I had to have a trombone too! I'll never forget my Dad saying all the way home, "I thought you wanted a trumpet?" "How come you didn't get a trumpet?" My Mom finally said, "He wanted a trombone instead"! ...........Silence!

Dave's Mom was our Den Mother in cub scouts and a finer woman probably didn't exist in town. Most of her attributes were handed down to Dave and the other Lansrude kids and I don't remember anyone saying a bad word about any of them.

I lost touch with Dave after High School and I'll always regret that. Talking with his sister, I have found that he lived a good life, was loved by his family, and is missed by everyone who knew him.

Don Finer