Calista Laures

Calista Laures, age 102, of New Hampton, Iowa, died Saturday, January 5, 2019, at Mercy Medical Center in New Hampton. A Mass of Christian burial will be held 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, January 9, 2019, at Holy Family Parish, New Hampton with Rev. Brian Dellaert and Rev. Mark Osterhaus celebrating the Mass. Interment will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, New Hampton with Calista’s grandchildren serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be her euchre playing friends Gen Sweitzer, Lorna Gorman, Norma Peters and Lois Betzer. Friends may greet the family from 3:00-7:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 8, 2019, at the Hugeback Johnson Funeral Home and Crematory in New Hampton where there will be a 7:00 p.m. Scripture Service. Further visitation will be one hour prior to the service Wednesday at the church. Calista Frances Laures, the daughter of Henry and Margaret (Ungs) Joebgen was born on August 7, 1916, in rural North Washington, Iowa. She was the seventh of nine children. Calista grew up doing farm work with her family. She milked cows and did various chores on the family farm. Calista graduated from St. Mary’s High School in North Washington. After graduation, she stayed home to continue to help on the farm. Calista met her husband, Bernard Laures, at a dance in North Washington. The couple was married on April 26, 1938, at Immaculate Conception Church in North Washington. To this union, four sons were born. The couple farmed together for many years on their farm south of New Hampton. After retiring from farming, the couple moved to New Hampton in 1982. Bernard and Calista spent many winters in Arizona. The couple enjoyed traveling together including trips to the Caribbean, Europe, Hawaii and Alaska. Calista moved into Kensington Assisted Living in 2014. Calista enjoyed crocheting, knitting, and baking. She spent many afternoons bowling in the Coffee Cup League. She enjoyed watching the Chicago Cubs especially when they won the World Series. Calista enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. She always looked forward to playing euchre with her card friends and played until recently. Calista was still driving at the age of 97. She is survived by four sons, Stan (Ginny) Laures, Gerald (Glenda) Laures, Russ (Angie) Laures, Steve (Susann) Laures all of New Hampton; 13 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; 4 great-great-grandchildren; one older sister, Bernice Goetzinger, of Michigan. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Bernard in 1996; seven siblings John Joebgen, Beatrice Burgart, Martha Strabala, Stacia Schuster Heying, Louise Gerber, Francis Joebgen, and Henry Joebgen, Jr.; one daughter-in-law, Lori Laures; two grandchildren, Tim Laures, Mark Laures; and one great-grandchild, Emily Sexton.