Paulene J. (Peterson) Laubsch

PIERCE -- Funeral service for Paulene June (Peterson) Laubsch, 78 of Pierce, will be held at 11:00 AM Wednesday, April 29, 2026 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, rural Pierce. Officiating the service will be Reverend Jacob Tuma. Visitation will be held from 4:00 – 7:00 PM Tuesday also at St. John’s Lutheran Church. The service will be live-streamed on the Stonacek Funeral Chapel Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/stonacekfuneralchapel/. Burial will take place at Zion East Lutheran Cemetery, rural Pierce. Paulene entered her eternal rest on Sunday, April 19, 2026 at Accura Care Center, Pierce, NE after a long battle with several illnesses. Stonacek Memorial Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. Paulene was the only child born to Lewis Paul and June Rozelle (Finzen) Peterson. She made her entrance into this world on April 14, 1948 and was raised on a farm north of Alcester, SD. Graduated from Alcester High School in Alcester, SD. Paulene was blessed with four children: Paul, John, Theresa and James. They brought nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren to brighten her days and bring all kinds of excitement. Her extended family of cousins and “adopted family” were very important to Paulene as well. She lived several years in El Paso, TX and returned to South Dakota before meeting and marrying Eldred Laubsch in June 2019. They made their home together on a farmstead outside of Pierce, NE. She enjoyed their travels around the Midwest and South attending gun shows with Eldred and visiting family and national parks. Speaking of travels, one of the highlights of her life was her once-in-a-lifetime trip to Israel in 2015. Paulene served many years in administrative and management roles including working at the University of South Dakota and for Gateway Computers. She also served in her church and with the American Heart Association, was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Joy Circle, and Pierce Legion Auxiliary. Paulene is survived by her husband Eldred Laubsch of Pierce, NE; her son Paul Harkness of El Paso, TX; her daughter Theresa (Roger) Salazar of El Paso, TX, eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents Lewis and June Peterson, sons John Harkness and James Harkness, her grandson Raymond Frye, and her daughter-in-law Paula Harkness. Condolences can be expressed to the family online at www.stonacekfuneralchapel.com.

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Paulene J. (Peterson) Laubsch

April 14, 1948 - April 19, 2026