Frances Laney

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.