Frances Bernice Laney
- March 22, 1923 - February 11, 2012
- Dousman, Wisconsin
of Frances' Passing
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1165 East Summit Ave
Oconomowoc,
WI
53066
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Memories & Candles
Previous
“To the Laney family,
My sincerest sympathies on the passing of your mom. She and my dad (Ronnie Bowe) were cousins and because that family was...Read More »
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1 of 17 | Posted by: Norris and Kristine (Bowe) Baumann - WI
“Dear Laney family,
My deepest sympathy. Mrs. Laney was a kind and wonderful christian woman. I enjoyed seeing and getting to know her when I would...Read More »
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2 of 17 | Posted by: Melody Brockmann Scott - WI
“What a great lady. I first knew Fran as Lauri's Mom and from church. Later when returning to Elkhorn to visit I was fortunate to usually run into...Read More »
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3 of 17 | Posted by: Deb Fry - Ajijic,Jall, Mex
“Dear Laney Family,
Fran was the very best example of a true Christian Women that I have ever met. Her hugs always made you feel better and if she...Read More »
”
4 of 17 | Posted by: Wendy (Channing) Koehnke - WI
“Dear Laney Family,
I knew your parents very well as my Sunday school teachers, and your Mom through the school system. When I first moved to...Read More »
”
5 of 17 | Posted by: Tracy (Kennedy) Walter - Elkhorn, WI
“Julie, Jon and rest of the Laney Family,
Our thoughts and prayers go out to you all on the loss of your Mom. It is many years since we have seen...Read More »
”
6 of 17 | Posted by: Bob & Ivy Girocco - Horicon, , WI
“Dear Laney Family,
I am so sorry to hear about your mother's passing.
I have such wonderful memories of living next door to all of you &...Read More »
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7 of 17 | Posted by: Katie (Barron) Marzahl - Belmont, WI
“Dear Laney Family
We want to express our sincere sympathy with the loss of Frances.
Dave had the wonderful experience of having Frances as his...Read More »
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8 of 17 | Posted by: Dave & Shirley Moots - WI
“Dear Laney Family,
I am so sorry for y our loss. Fran was a delightful person to know, and a Blessing to all who knew her. She was a...Read More »
”
9 of 17 | Posted by: Elaine Lundgren - Elkhorn, WI
“Franny and Harlan brought joy to those they touched. Now you are together again, and with parents, friends and family.
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10 of 17 | Posted by: Robert and Cindy Bowe - Austin, MN
“Fran and Harlan were dear friends and were such a joy to know. Fran was always cheerful and interested in your family. I know she will be greatly...Read More »
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11 of 17 | Posted by: Phyllis Gebauer - Elkhorn, WI
“Mrs. Laney was the BEST SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER EVER!! She was always so interested in everything I was doing as a child and as an adult. We continued...Read More »
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12 of 17 | Posted by: Katy (Conway) Schroeder - WI
“Dear Laney Family,
I am so sad to hear of your loss but feel your Mom is happy to be with your Dad, and hopefully with my folks, reminiscing and...Read More »
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13 of 17 | Posted by: Pam (Johnson) Tasch - Lake Geneva, WI
“Dear Laney Family, I was so sorry to hear of Fran's passing today. A truly great lady. It was a privlege to have know her. So happy she was able to...Read More »
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14 of 17 | Posted by: Peggy Haire - Ormond Beach, FL
“Dear Laney Family,
I am so sad for your loss yet so happy for your memories and inspiration you will forever carry with you of your Mom, Grandma,...Read More »
”
15 of 17 | Posted by: Pat Conway - Mt. Horeb, WI
“To Fran's family,
It was so sad to hear the news of Fran's death. I can't describe the feelings I had for her. She was the best of the best...Read More »
”
16 of 17 | Posted by: Jan Conway - Apache Junction, AZ
“Dear Laney Family, Fran will always be remembered as a special friend of our family. Our children had her as their first Sunday School teacher,...Read More »
”
17 of 17 | Posted by: Dennis and Arlene Lyons - Elkhorn, WI
Frances B. Laney (nee Bowe), 88, of Dousman and longtime resident of Elkhorn, passed away on Saturday, February 11, 2012. Frances is survived by her daughters Susan Laney of Chicago, IL, Karen (Steve) Swan of Bellingham, WA, Laurie Laney of Hollywood, FL and son Jonathan (Julie) Laney of Oak Park, IL, sister Dorothy (Walter) Howard of Hudson, WI and sister-in-law Janice Laney Haire of Virginia. Grandmother to Melissa (Ryan) Van Straten, Kristin Swan, Devon and Dylan Laney. Frances is also survived by many other relatives and friends. Preceded in death by her husband Harlan Laney who passed away on January 28, 2006 and her parents Irving and Margaret Bowe.
Frances was born on March 22, 1923 to Irving and Margaret (nee Griffiths) Bowe in the Town of Ottawa. She attended Ottawa school where she became a classmate of her future husband. She graduated from Waukesha High School in 1940 and then attended UW-Whitewater for an accelerated rural education course and began her teaching career at age 19. On August 6, 1946, she married Harlan Laney after he returned from the Pacific Island of Tinian, serving three years in the Army Air Force. They built a home on Oak Knoll Heritage Farm established in 1842 by Laney ancestors from Ireland. He worked the acreage with his father for thirteen years when the farm was bought by the State of Wisconsin and City of Milwaukee because it adjoined the Kettle Moraine State Park. It is used for educational purposes for inner city children. In the meantime with three daughters in school, Frances taught 8th grade in North Prairie for two years continuing her education at UW-Whitewater and Carroll College. In 1966 the Laney's moved, with their three daughters and two year old son, to a house they built on Gerard Street in Elkhorn. Fran worked at Elkhorn Area Middle School teaching remedial reading and for 22 years teaching English to students from Vietnam and Mexico. She retired in 2001 at the age of 78.
A memorial service for Frances will take place in the Humphrey Room at Three Pillars Senior Living Communities in Dousman on Saturday, February 18th at 2:00 PM. Visitation for family and friends will be held from 1:00 PM until the time of the service. Please enter at Village on the Square, 375 Hwy 67.
Memorials can be made to the Harlan and Frances Laney Elkhorn High School Endowment Scholarship or to the charity of your choice.

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