Dr. Leonard L. Lausten

Lausten, Dr. Leonard L.,
Passed away on Monday, August 15, 2016 at the age of 66 years. Beloved husband of Mary (nee Wold). Loving father of Leonard (Denise), John (Erin), James (Margret), Joseph (Jessica), Marie (Gretchen) and Mark (Teal). Brother of Thomas (Cheryl), Karen and Anne (Martin). Preceded in death by brother Peter and Peter’s wife Arlette. Also survived by 13 grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. 
Memorial Visitation will be Saturday at the FUNERAL HOME from 12PM-3PM with a Rosary Service at 2PM. There will also be a full memorial mass on September 17th at 11AM at the Church of the Ascension (9510 W. 127th St. & Grant St.) in Overland Park, Kansas.

Leonard was a dentist and educator for all his life. He was proud to complete his undergraduate and graduate courses at Marquette University. Leonard was privileged to complete his residency through Yale University’s St. Mary’s Hospital, in Waterbury, Connecticut. After completing his residency, he came back to Marquette University, where he was a practitioner, educator and mentor for 27 years. His most recent venture brought him to Kansas where he continued to work to support patients with the most complex dental needs that would not be able to be serviced by others. Leonard was partnering with the ENT clinic through the University of Kansas Hospital in Kansas City, Kansas to support the needs of those with cancer. He was very proud of the work he did to support the needs of he patients and students. Through his work, Dr. Lausten was able to author/co-author several publications, collaborate on grant reviews and provide valuable insight to communities in need. Leonard’s professional philosophy always was “I have the best of both worlds…..I get to teach students as well as treat an exceptional group of patients”.

For anyone who knew Leonard, it would not come as a surprise that his true and most defining passion was his family. Leonard is forever joined with his loving wife Mary. Their life together can be summarized by the vows they took 42 years ago. They stuck together in good times and most importantly bad. They endured many illnesses/ailments and most importantly, they raised a beautiful family through some very tough but memorable times. Len and Mary enjoyed traveling together especially to Branson and back home to Wisconsin. They treasured the holidays with their entire family, the north woods and teaching their family how to enjoy life.

Leonard loved his children, Lenny, John, Jim, Joey, Marie and Mark. When they were younger, he relished the time he was able to spend teaching them to hunt, fish and spending time with them at the cottages. You always knew when the kids were being a little too rebellious by how loud Leonard’s voice was, and by the half grin he had after he scolded them. He knew that at times he thought their antics were exactly what he would be doing at their age. Leonard appreciated his children’s individual personalities and never asked that they were anyone but who they were. He was so proud to see his children grow up and have families of their own. Leonard welcomed in these new family members with no hesitation, opening his heart as if they were his children from the start. In the end, his children would defy doctors by telling you that his heart wasn’t his weakest attribute rather his strongest. It was giving, accepting and enduring.

To his grandchildren, Anthony, Brady, Gwyneth, Everett, LJ (Leonard the 4th), Felicia, Hayden, Bryanna, Zoey, Jalynn, Jude and most recently Adele and Stephani, Leonard was “Grandpa, Papa, Grandpa Naughty and the Bunny Thief.” He loved nothing more then to spend time with them. Leonard loved when one of them jumped on him to wake him up in the morning, asked him to take them to the park, pool, or build something with them. Leonard always made it a priority to make sure his grandchildren knew they were his soul and loved by him.

Leonard also thought of himself as the “extra dad” to Steve Lopez, Danny Hanna, Jesse Leming, Martin Rehfeldt, Conner Cowling, John “Skippy” Seitz and John/Mark Doornek. He took pride in playing the role of “Uncle Naughty” teaching his nieces/nephews all of the things their mothers didn’t want them to know but most importantly to have a heart as big and fun loving as his own.

Leonard, “Doc”, enjoyed his life and spending time doing what he loved with family and friends, hunting, fishing, hiking, cooking. His most devoted past time was serving with his “brothers” in the Knights of Columbus. He loved entertaining, smoking a fine cigar and cocktailing with his brother Knights. Many good cigars will be lit and cheap bourbon consumed in his honor.