THE FAMILY WISHES TO EXPRESS THEIR GRATITUDE FOR YOUR KINDNESS EVIDENCED IN THOUGHT, WORD, AND DEED, AND INVITES YOU TO JOIN THEM FOR LUNCH AND FELLOWSHIP AT THE ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH FOLLOWING THE SERVICE. DRIVERS IN A FUNERAL PROCESSION MUST TURN ON VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS.

LAURA GRAU ALWILL
Laura, daughter of August Frederick and Mary (Hansen) Grau, was born in Lincoln Township, Audubon County, Iowa, on March 8, 1899. Laura attended various rural schools and later Manning High School.

Laura was united in marriage with James Elmer Alwill on March 23, 1929 at Carroll, Iowa, with Reverend Muellor, officiating. This union was blessed with one son, Wayne. They farmed in Jefferson Township, Shelby County for 44 years, living on the same farm, before retiring from active farm life in 1973 and moving to Manning.

In later years, Laura became a resident of the Manning Plaza nursing home. She had been in ill health this summer and died there on Friday afternoon, July 5, 1996, at the age of 97 years, 3 months, and 27 days.

Laura was preceded in death by her husband in 1985, also by her parents, brothers and sisters.

She is survived by her son, Wayne Alwill, of Manning and other relatives.

Laura was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church, and was a member of Zion Lutheran Congregation in Manning. She was an honorary member of the rural Pleasant Valley Club, of which she was a member for some 55 years. Her hobbies included collecting drift wood and unusual rocks found on the farm. She also enjoyed sewing jackets and dresses.

An experience of Laura Alwill:
Some years before 1972 and after 1960 during the summer there was a thunder storm in the late afternoon between 6:00 and 7:00 p.m. The rain had stopped and Laura was washing the supper dishes when she looked out at the garage and said to her son, "there's a rainbow outside". She rushed to the garage and Wayne followed. The rainbow came clear to the ground. She went over and stood with the rainbow colors on her dress, arms, and shoes; even the green tree leaves were colored with the various colors of the rainbow. She stayed until it faded away.

A story memorized by Laura, as a child, and written down by her after she moved to the Plaza.

A boy, Ben Adam, awoke from a deep, peaceful dream, and saw within his room an Angel, writing in a book of gold. He said, "what writest Thou?" The vision raised its head and with all sweet accord said, "the names of those who love the Lord." Said the boy, "is mine one?" "Nay, not so," replied the Angel. The boy spoke more low but clearly still, "I pray Thee, write me as one who loves his fellow man." The Angel wrote and vanished. The next night it came again with a great awakening light and showed the names of those who God had blest. And Lo! Ben Adam's name led all the rest.