Laureen Ann Canarsky

Laureen Ann (Bundy) Canarsky was born on May 25, 1947 in Oakland, Ne to Loren & Helen (Jensen) Bundy. She peacefully entered into eternal rest on January 14, 2025 at Franciscan Healthcare in West Point after a long, courageous battle with cancer.

Lauri grew up on the family farm. Her family moved from Uehling to a farm west of Tekamah when their farm was destroyed by a tornado when she was 4 years old. She attended & graduated from Tekamah High School in 1965. After high school, she attended & graduated from Omaha School of Commerce.

During high school, in 1961, she met the love of her life, Leonard Canarsky, at the county fair. They were united in marriage on December 23, 1965 & had just celebrated their 58th Anniversary. Together they raised their 3 children, Larinda, Layne & Leann.

In 1965, Lauri worked as a secretary at Plumbers Supply. Once she became a mother, she was a stay at home mom until 1982. She & Leonard moved to Holdredge, Ne in 1968 where they ran the local Drive-In theatre. In 1971, they moved back to Oakland, NE, where they lived for the next 54 years.

Lauri worked as a secretary/dispatcher for the Burt County Sheriff’s Office for 12 years. In 1999, she went to work for Twin City Concrete in Omaha, NE, where she worked as a secretary for 15 years until her retirement in 2014. She & Leonard became “snow birds” & spent many winters traveling & staying in their RV in Deming, NM, until her health no longer allowed her to travel.

Lauri’s love of crafts, sewing, quilting & knitting knew no bounds, as the proof still stands in the many totes of fabric & supplies in her sewing room. She made many clothes for the children growing up & was always up for a challenge. Leann often referred to her as “last minute Lauri” as she was always pushing the time limits to finish a project, even sewing up the back of Larinda’s prom dress as she was walking out the door for the dance! There was rarely a project she wasn’t willing to tackle & always gave the most beautiful, thoughtful, homemade gifts. She made photo quilts for most of the grandkids when they graduated from high school. She was an active member of the Logan Valley Quilters Guild & spent many mornings after her retirement sewing with the quilting ladies at the First Lutheran Church, where she has been a member since 1971, making quilts for those in need.

Lauri was also very active in the Burt County Relay for Life, until her health declined & she was unable to help. She was very passionate & was always willing to do her part for cancer research.

Her children, grandchildren & great-grandchildren were the light of her life. She could be found many nights & weekends at dance, gymnastics, music concerts or sporting events. If she was there, you knew it, as she was their biggest & loudest fan.

Lauri was preceded in death by her parents Loren & Helen; grandparents Fred & Nora Bundy & Christian & Minnie Jensen.

Lauri is survived by her husband of 58 years, Leonard. Her children Larinda (Joseph) Collete of Lennox, SD; Layne (Ruby) Canarsky of Fremont, NE; Leann (James) Jorgensen of Oakland, NE. Grandchildren: Nathaniel Collette of Lincoln, NE; Alicia (Chad) Isner of Elkhorn, NE; Tiffany Canarsky of Lincoln, NE; Tyler (Krissy) Jorgensen of Fort Calhoun, NE; Justin Jorgensen of Fremont, NE; Austin (Roni) Jorgensen of Oakland, NE; Lindsay (Wyatt) Pratt; Brady Jorgensen all of Elkhorn, NE; Aiden & Jaxen Jorgensen of Oakland, NE; Great-grandchildren Samantha Canarsky of Elkhorn, NE; Henry, Bowen & Wyatt Jorgensen of Fort Calhoun, NE; Justin Jorgensen of Omaha, NE; Pacey Canarsky of Lincoln, NE & baby Pratt due in August. Brother Raymond (Jean) Bundy of Las Cruces, NM, niece Nora (Todd) Perry of Montclair, VA, nephew Geoff Bundy of Oklahoma & many cousins & friends.

Arbor Cremation Society in Omaha, NE was in charge of arrangements. A Celebration of Life will be held at First Lutheran Church in Oakland, NE in early March. Memorials may be directed to the First Lutheran Church Quilting Group, a designated charity of your choice or to the family for later designation.