1918
James
2008
James Lassen
March 22, 1918 — January 14, 2008
James "Pete" Lassen, 89, of Grand Island died Monday, January 14, 2008 at Tabitha Hospice in Lincoln.
Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday at Jacobsen-Greenway Funeral Home in St. Paul. Reverend Martha Voigt will officiate. Interment will be in the Elba Cemetery in Elba with military honors by the Carl Mogensen American Legion Post #119 of St. Paul. Visitation will be held on Friday, from 4 - 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorials are suggested to the Elba Community Center.
Mr. Lassen was born March 22, 1918 at home in Elba to Neils and Anna (Boilesen) Lassen, the eighth of nine children.
He attended school at the Lower Cotesfield District 48 School.
He entered the U.S. Army in December 1942. He served in Africa and Italy in the 88th Division of Company G Infantry. He was engaged in three major battles including Rome-Arno, North Apennines and Po Valley. He received the sharpshooter badge, Purple Heart, and the Presidential Citation as a unit. He received his discharge on September 10, 1945.
Pete farmed in the Elba area, worked as a supervisor for Colorcraft making tile in Grand Island and as a finish carpenter for Kalkowski Construction until retirement.
Pete enjoyed gardening, working with animals and livestock, playing cards with his brothers and sisters, polka music and dancing. He was a gentle person and was very proud of his military service. He was a very practical person with an exceptional memory. He enjoyed cooking and canning produce from his garden. Pete was an expert finish carpenter.
He was a member of the Grand Island American Legion.
Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Bob and Velma Lassen of Lincoln; three daughters, Mary Ann Bella of Chapel Hill, NC, Linda Moody and Jim Beatty of Seattle, and Lori Lanigan of Denver; eight grandchildren, Michelle Hubbard, Christine Eubank, Steven Bella, Timothy Lassen, William Moody, Stephanie Fazio, Ashley Beatty and Justin Lanigan; and eleven great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Henry, Edward and Howard Lassen; and five sisters, Eleanora Jorgensen, Ida Lassen, Mary Hansen, Lillie Blanchard and Mabel Christensen.
Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday at Jacobsen-Greenway Funeral Home in St. Paul. Reverend Martha Voigt will officiate. Interment will be in the Elba Cemetery in Elba with military honors by the Carl Mogensen American Legion Post #119 of St. Paul. Visitation will be held on Friday, from 4 - 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorials are suggested to the Elba Community Center.
Mr. Lassen was born March 22, 1918 at home in Elba to Neils and Anna (Boilesen) Lassen, the eighth of nine children.
He attended school at the Lower Cotesfield District 48 School.
He entered the U.S. Army in December 1942. He served in Africa and Italy in the 88th Division of Company G Infantry. He was engaged in three major battles including Rome-Arno, North Apennines and Po Valley. He received the sharpshooter badge, Purple Heart, and the Presidential Citation as a unit. He received his discharge on September 10, 1945.
Pete farmed in the Elba area, worked as a supervisor for Colorcraft making tile in Grand Island and as a finish carpenter for Kalkowski Construction until retirement.
Pete enjoyed gardening, working with animals and livestock, playing cards with his brothers and sisters, polka music and dancing. He was a gentle person and was very proud of his military service. He was a very practical person with an exceptional memory. He enjoyed cooking and canning produce from his garden. Pete was an expert finish carpenter.
He was a member of the Grand Island American Legion.
Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Bob and Velma Lassen of Lincoln; three daughters, Mary Ann Bella of Chapel Hill, NC, Linda Moody and Jim Beatty of Seattle, and Lori Lanigan of Denver; eight grandchildren, Michelle Hubbard, Christine Eubank, Steven Bella, Timothy Lassen, William Moody, Stephanie Fazio, Ashley Beatty and Justin Lanigan; and eleven great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Henry, Edward and Howard Lassen; and five sisters, Eleanora Jorgensen, Ida Lassen, Mary Hansen, Lillie Blanchard and Mabel Christensen.
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