Laraine M. Ludvigsen
Laraine M. “Rain” Ludvigsen (nee Anderson) of North Fond du Lac passed away on January 31 at the age of 94. The beloved matriarch of a robust family, Rain lived her life on her terms, was the true embodiment of love, and may have been the Green Bay Packers most ardent fan. She adored her friends and family, was a woman of hope and faith, and set the standard for what it means to enjoy and cherish the time we are granted on this Earth. Like her Brett Favre shirt said, “There will never be another.”
She is survived by her four adult children including Randy, Lynn (Mike) Gradinjan, Les (Deb) and Mary (Dennis) George. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 70 years, Robert “Bob” Ludvigsen. Together, the couple had nine grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.
Born in the back bedroom in her childhood home on Indiana Avenue in North Fond du Lac, Wis., on November 27, 1927, Rain was one of six children raised by Olaf and Mayta Anderson. She graduated from Horace Mann High School and married her classmate, Bob, a World War II veteran, on May 29, 1948. They moved into a house they built across the street from Bob’s parents’ house and lived there the rest of their lives. Like her husband, Rain earned a living as a foundry worker at Wells Manufacturing. She retired in 1992.
Rain’s days, nights, and weekends (and all other waking moments) were spent soaking up time with her family, which included those she raised, the people she knew from church, and the men and women who married her children and grandchildren. She was “Grandma Rain” or “Aunt Rain” to almost everyone. Her house was filled with school photographs, wedding pictures and graduation portraits. She never missed the opportunity to send a birthday or anniversary card.
Rain was an avid sports fan and was rarely seen not donning some kind of sports apparel (usually featuring the Packers, the Brewers or the Badgers). She bled Packers green and gold, and she caught as many Brewers games as she could. She was as passionate about her grandkids’ and great-grandkids’ games as she was about the pros – whether it was soccer, volleyball, her new-found love of lacrosse, or reminiscing her glory days as a 5’1” basketball player when they took to the hard courts themselves.
She will be remembered for her kindness, her good humor, and her willingness to welcome everyone into her life with arms wide open. There was no measure of love she would not grant, and no forgiveness she would not bestow. She believed in amazing grace. No one will ever fill her space in the third-to-last pew at Apostolic Christian Church with the same subtle charm or warm smile – and while the streets may be a little safer, they will miss her Packers antenna flag waving in the wind.
Her family will celebrate Rain’s life on Friday, February 4, 2022, with visitation from 3-6 PM and a funeral service to follow at 6:00 PM with Rev. Vince Cochran officating at Uecker Witt Funeral Home. Burial will take place on Saturday, February 5, 2021, at 11:00 AM at Ledgeview Memorial Park. The family extends a special thank you to the doctors and nurses at St. Agnes Hospital who compassionately cared for Rain in her final days.
Services are in the care of Uecker-Witt Funeral Home, 524 North Park Avenue, Fond du Lac, WI, 54935. Additional information and guestbook can be found at ueckerwitt.com