Laurene June Kettler, 78, St. Louis, Mo., a native of Lane and former resident of Osawatomie and the Block community, died Monday, Dec. 4, 2006.

June, as she was known, was born at home Nov. 1, 1928, in Lane, the daughter of Ross and Laura Flinsbaugh Brewer. The family moved to Osawatomie a few years later to operate a service station next door to their home on South Sixth Street.

It was during these years in Osawatomie she began to learn about a personal relationship with her Lord Jesus. At age 14 she accepted Him as Savior and was baptized. The event changed the course of her life.

At an early age she showed a variety of talents for fine arts. She took tap dance lessons for a few years and then convinced her parents to allow her to switch to piano lessons. Piano became an integral part of her life. At age 12, she became the regular accompanist for the Christian church. The preparation served her well as she accompanied various high school groups, as well as later serving her Lord as a church musician for decades.

During the early 1940s, she served as a junior air raid warden in the Junior WAACs. During air raid drills, she and her father patrolled part of Osawatomie for light leaks.

She was valedictorian of her class when she graduated in 1946 from Osawatomie High School. She had also taken a correspondence course in drawing, preferring pen and ink. Some of her artwork was included in the high school yearbook.

After graduating, she accepted a position as executive secretary to the director of maintenance and engineering at Trans World Airlines. The opportunity opened a whole new world to her, from knowing only small towns to living and working in Kansas City, Mo.

In 1948, she met her future husband, Damon E. Kettler, and they were married April 16, 1950, in the Trinity Lutheran Church of Block. For their honeymoon, they flew to California on her last airline travel pass.

They lived on a 160-acre farm for the next 55 years, operating a dairy farm and growing crops in the Block community. She also worked as a librarian for the Osawatomie State Hospital and then as a medical receptionist for Robert E. Banks, a Paola physician.

Mrs. Kettler was confirmed in the Lutheran faith in June 1950. She was active in music as choir director and organist, Ladies Aid and teaching. She was a Twin Valley 4-H sewing leader for several years and actively helped prepare the club for County Club Days and the Miami County Fair.

Mrs. Kettler was known for her concern and care for others. Her joy was volunteer work. Her circle of “adopted” children throughout the United States continued to expand until she died.

Upon their retirements, she and her husband became part of Laborers for Christ. During the 11 years of involvement, they assisted Lutheran congregations in 22 building projects throughout the United States. In April 2005 the couple relocated to St. Louis, Mo.

An infant brother was among those preceding her in death.

She is survived by her husband of 56 1/2 years, Damon Kettler; their three children, Diane Holtz of Fremont, Calif., Denise Rousseau of St. Louis and Mark Kettler of Paola; two sisters, Shirley Maycumber of Woodburg, Ore., and Betts Paschke of Roseburg, Ore.; and six grandchildren.

A memorial service was Thursday at The Lutheran Church of Webster Gardens in St. Louis. A second memorial service was Saturday in Trinity Lutheran Church. Her husband’s address is 12505 Village Circle, Apt. 271, St. Louis, MO 63127.

Memorial gifts may be made to LCMS World Missions, June Kettler Memorial Fund, 1333 S. Kirkwood Drive, St. Louis, MO 63122, or Trinity Lutheran Church, 34868 Block Road, Paola, KS 66071.