Debra A. Laugesen, age 74, of Dubuque, passed away on Monday, December 15, 2025, at UnityPoint Health Finley Hospital surrounded by her family.  To celebrate Deb’s life, family and friends may visit from 9:00 until 10:15 a.m., on Monday, December 22, 2025, at Holy Spirit Parish, Holy Trinity Church, 1701 Rhomberg Avenue.  Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., with Rev. Jeffrey Frieden officiating.  Entombment will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery.  Behr Funeral Home is assisting Deb’s family.

Debra was born on February 12, 1951, in Dubuque, Iowa, the daughter of Walter N. and Mary J. (Graff) Uthe.

Deb graduated from Wahlert Catholic High School, Class of 1968.  She married Daniel Laugesen on February 6, 1971, at Holy Trinity Church.  She worked as a Librarian at Marshall School for 27 years, retiring in 2013.  Deb loved children and also did in home day care.  She was always a very active person.  She enjoyed playing volleyball at Women’s Rec, tennis, boating, water skiing and spending time on the river.  Deb and Dan loved traveling to the National Parks camping, exploring and searching for wildlife.  Her faith was a very important part of her life and her family was her pride and joy.  She had a special bond with each of her grandchildren.  Deb was a wonderful wife, mom, grandma and sister.  She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

Those left to cherish Deb’s memory include

her husband of nearly 55 years,
Daniel Laugesen, Dubuque, IA;

2 daughters,
Jodie (Chad) Grall, Dubuque, IA
and Tracey (Pete) Holt, Dubuque, IA;

6 grandchildren,
Tyler Grall, Kayla Grall, Jacob Grall, Emma Holt, Matthew Holt and Ethan Holt;

a sister,
Lynn (Larry) Pape, Dubuque, IA;

her in-laws,
Mary Konrardy,
Mark (Julie) Laugesen,
Mike (Nancy) Laugesen,
Bill (Mary) Laugesen
and Gary Laugesen;

and her grandpuppies,
Chloe and Biscuit.

Debra was preceded in death by her parents; and a brother-in-law, Wayne Konrardy.

Deb’s family would like to thank the Palliative Care Team and the Chaplain at UnityPoint Health Finley Hospital and Fr. Jeffrey Frieden and Holy Spirit Parish, Holy Trinity Church for all of their support and prayers.

Cards and memorials in Deb’s memory may be mailed to Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main Street, Dubuque, Iowa 52001, Attn. Debra Laugesen Family.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.behrfuneralhome.com