Lavaughn “L.J.” Mallatt
Lavaughn “L. J.” Mallatt, 95, Laurel, died Dec. 9, 2022, at Hillcrest Care Center, Laurel. Mass of Christian Burial will be Dec. 14, at 10:30 a.m., at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Laurel, with the Rev. David Liewer and Rev. Jerry Connealy officiating. Burial will be at the Laurel Cemetery, with military rites by the Laurel VFW Post 4504 and Laurel American Legion Post 54. Pallbearers will be Mark McCoy, Kyle Knudsen, Ryan Fettig, Justin Larson, Kody Knudsen and Ron Lundahl. Honorary Pallbearers will be Dennis Dvorak, Austin Dvorak, Alexis Dvorak Nakamura, Roger Tryon, Craig and Arllys Monson and Dave Felber.
Visitation and a Vigil service were Tuesday, at church, and will continue Wednesday, one hour prior to services.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home, Laurel.
Lavaughn James was born Sept. 25, 1927, in Fordyce, to Dale and Marie Juliana (Uhing) Mallatt. He grew up in Wynot, and attended Parochial school at Holy Trinity Elementary from 1933-1935, before moving to Laurel Feb. 12, 1938, at the age of 10. He graduated from Laurel High School in 1944. L.J. enlisted in the U.S. Navy Air Corps in 1944, and was discharged in 1946. L.J. was engaged in 1946 and then married Marian Bebee Dec. 19, 1948, in Laurel. He attended Wayne State College in 1947, and then pursued further education at Valparaiso University in Indiana, enrolling in the advanced radio program, completing the necessary course work in 1949. L.J. then returned to Laurel in 1950 and opened up his own radio and TV shop. He also worked as a surveyor with the Nebraska Civil Engineering group as part of the Neb. Department of Roads. L.J. worked as the Laurel City administrator from 1952 until his retirement in 1990. He went on to serve as a consultant for the surrounding communities and states in the areas of streets, sewers, and the maintenance and repair of Municipal Power Plants.
L.J. was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and served on its board. He was a member of the Laurel VFW and the Laurel American Legion groups.
He enjoyed bowling, golfing, fishing, hunting and baseball, but his favorite hobby was buying and restoring older aircraft along with piloting on his own.
L.J. is survived by his daughter, Claudia (Dennis) Dvorak; two grandchildren, Austin Dvorak, Alexis (Dawn) Nakamura; one great-grandchild, Talon Nakamura; a brother, William Mallatt; two sisters, Shirley Kraemer and Saundra Bottger.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Dale and Marie Mallatt; wife, Marian, Aug. 24, 2012, at the age of 84; two brothers, Gerald (Phyllis) Mallatt, and Patrick (Joan) Mallatt; sister-in-law, Janet Mallatt, and two brothers-in-law, Alan Bebee and Melvin Bottger.
Memorials directed to St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 408 Elm Laurel, NE 68745.