ALLIANCE, Ohio – The University of Mount Union will host a memorial service for Laurie Kolenbrander, the late wife of former Mount Union President Dr. Harold Kolenbrander, on Saturday, October 20 at 11 a.m. in the Dewald Chapel. 

Laurie Kolenbrander passed away on Sunday, July 29 at age 79. She was an integral part of the Mount Union community both during and after her husband’s tenure as president from 1986 – 2000. She was a member of the Mount Union Women and was active in a number of civic organizations, including the Community Concert Association, Town and Country Gardeners, P.E.O., the First Ladies Library, and the Canton and Alliance symphonies, among others. 

In recognition of the Kolenbranders’ service to Mount Union, the Kolenbrander-Harter Information Center was named in their honor in 1999. In addition, the Laurie Kolenbrander Award for Public Service was established in 2000 to annually recognize a student who is exceptionally committed to public service at Mount Union and within Alliance and the surrounding communities. 

In addition to her husband, Laurie is survived by her three children - Kimberly and her husband Vincent Mauer, Kirk and his wife Terri Vander Werff, and Kerri - and six grandchildren.

For more information regarding the memorial service, contact University Chaplain Rev. Kyle Woodrow at woodrokd@mountunion.edu.