Lola Lakin

Lola M. Lakin, 89, of Cedar Falls, died Wednesday, September 11, 2013, at the Western Home Communities Thalman Square in Cedar Falls. She was born June 18, 1924 in Clarinda, Iowa, the daughter of Laurence & Irma (Pugh) Brown. She married Kenneth C. Lakin August 12, 1944 in Columbia, South Carolina. He preceded her in death on January 4, 2007. Lola was a joyful, energetic, passionate, generous and determined parent, friend and teacher. At the age of 36 she enrolled in her first college class and graduated from the University of Northern Iowa three years later. She spent the next two decades as a high school teacher in Clarksville, Dunkerton, and Waterloo. In all their years together, she and Ken enjoyed travel and peaceful days on Northern Minnesota lakes. In retirement they found great joy and peace in the run-down cabin that she and Ken turned into a lovely house on beautiful Bottle Lake. In her later years she demonstrated a powerful dedication to Ken as he struggled with Parkinson's disease. Survivors include two sons, Charlie (Hannah) Lakin, of Minneapolis, Minnesota and Dick (Janet) Lakin, of Springfield, Missouri; seven grandchildren, Gaio (Amy) Lakin, Winona Lakin, Olaf Lakin, Nick (Jennifer) Lakin, Ben (Kim) Lakin, Joe Lakin, and Derek Badel; three great grandchildren, Jack, Sam and Trey Lakin; and one sister, Grace Lakin, of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Lola was preceded in death by her parents, husband, two brothers, Roy and Ronald Brown, and one sister, Lauretta Cluts. Services will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, September 16, 2013 at First Presbyterian Church, 9th and Main Streets, Cedar Falls, with private inurnment at Fairview Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to service time at the church on Monday. Memorials may be directed to Western Home Communities. Dahl-Van Hove-Schoof Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.DahlFuneralHome.com.