Laurel Delois Karsa

Laurel Delois (Sorgatz) Karsa, a strong and inspirational woman who was an artist, mother, and loving friend, was called to her heavenly home on June 29, 2016 in Rochester, MN, at the age of 59. Laurel was born on December 4, 1956, to Clayton and Delois Sorgatz. Growing up as the third of six kids, she helped care for her younger siblings, learned to sew, and was involved in tumbling, majorettes, and singing in her church choir. She graduated from Amboy-Good Thunder High School. Laurel married Bill Brown and moved to his farm in rural St. James, where they built a home and raised four children, who were her pride and joy. She was very involved in church, singing, guest preaching, and directing the youth choir. Always a dreamer and an artist, Laurel started her own business creating porcelain dolls and teaching doll-making classes to children and adults. The classes were so popular and the business so successful that she moved from a small studio in the basement to a much larger studio in a remodeled barn on the farm. From porcelain-doll making, she stretched her talent a step further and began sculpting her own dolls, and won awards for her mastery in the area. In her 40s, Laurel left the farm and pursued her lifelong dream of going to college, obtaining her bachelors degree in Media Arts and Animation, proving yet another area of her artistic talent. In 2005, she was diagnosed with a rare form of untreatable gastrointestinal cancer. Over the next 11 years, she bravely battled through countless treatments, medications, procedures and hardships, carrying the burden of her illness with grace, dignity and humor. In 2010, she proudly earned her Masters Degree in Liberal Studies with a focus on art and healing. For her thesis, she combined her passions for the healing powers of nature and art to design a beautiful healing garden for other cancer patients. After her cancer diagnosis, Laurels art become more than just a hobby; it was her passion and saving grace, and she spent countless hours painting, drawing, writing poetry, sewing, embroidering, arranging flowers, marbling, wood-carving and creating multimedia projects. Through art, she was able to transform her pain into beauty, which echoed running themes throughout Laurels life: finding beauty in the ugly, and loving the unlovable. Her kids will always remember her teaching them to be accepting and loving toward all, as well as her unconditional love and support for their hopes and dreams, no matter how outlandish they may have been. Throughout her poetry and art, dandelions and butterflies were often central themes, signifying strength, beauty, hope and transformation. A grandma of seven, Laurel loved spending time with her grandkids, snuggling with them, reading to them, attending their events, teaching them about art, and creating special keepsakes for them. In 2012, Laurel met Bruce Chandler, a man who wholeheartedly loved and supported her, and highly encouraged her artistic endeavors. Committed to being each others life partners, together they shared much joy and companionship, spending time with their dog Simon, going to art shows and community events together, traveling in their RV, and spending hours talking with each other on the glider swing on the porch. Laurel will be deeply missed by her children Erin (Shaun) Lindquist, Emilie (Manuel) Rivera, Erica (Ryan) Hermann, and Isaac Brown; significant other Bruce Chandler; grandchildren Darcy and Amber Lindquist; Aidan, Oliver, and Payton Rivera; and Gabriella and Calvin Hermann; siblings Lynn (Linda) Sorgatz; Connie (Brian) Lentz; Mark (Ellen) Sorgatz; Rhonda (Chuck) Peck; and Edna ONeil; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, Clayton and Delois Sorgatz Laurel will always be remembered for the immense beauty she brought to earth: her amazing talent, her boisterous and contagious laugh, her amazing resilience and strength, and her accepting and loving spirit. Those who knew her were richly blessed, and she will surely continue to bless us in heaven, as she joyfully sings and creates masterpieces as an angel, free of pain and full of joy and laughter. Visitation will be held at 12:00 pm, followed by a Celebration of Life Service at 2:00 pm, on Tuesday, July 5, at St. Johns Lutheran Church, 20165 Heath Avenue in Lakeville, MN 55044. Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home 5421 Royal Place NW Rochester, MN 55901 www.ranfranzandvinefh.com