Laura Louise (Clark) Rongish

Laura Louise (Clark) Rongish, 93, loving wife and mother, elementary teacher, died Sunday, August 21, 2022. Funeral Service will be at 1:00 pm, Friday, August 26, 2022, at Downing & Lahey West Mortuary. Preceded in death by her husband, John Edward Rongish; son, James Rongish; parents, Porter and Lois Clark. Survived by her sons, David Rongish, Steve (Sandy) Rongish, Tom (Paula) Rongish; nine grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; sister, Pat (Doug) Lyon. Laura was born in Emporia, KS on October 5, 1928. She spent her childhood years in Emporia and graduated from Emporia High School on May 24, 1946. Laura attended College of Emporia (C of E) where she enjoyed singing and performing. She received her teaching certificate from Emporia State Teachers College and began her teaching career in a one room schoolhouse (1st-8th grades) at Harmony Hill, which was located halfway between Emporia and Olpe. After two years she transferred to Cottonwood Falls elementary and later taught in both Newton and Wichita schools. Laura married John (Jack) Rongish on May 30, 1953 in Wichita. Jack and Laura lived most of their lives in Wichita where they raised their 4 boys. They did spend 11 years from 1963 to 1974 in New Orleans while Jack was working for Boeing on part of the Apollo space program. Laura enjoyed singing with the Boeing Strato Singers. She also participated in the local Kansas State EHU group. She lost her son Jimmy at 18 years to cancer in 1976. Jack passed away in 2018 at the age of 91. Memorials have been established with: Emporia State University Foundation, Music Department Enhancement Fund, 1500 Highland Street, Emporia, KS 66801and The College of Emporia Alumni Association Scholarship Fund, P. O. Box 405, Emporia, KS 66801. Share tributes online at: www.dlwichita.com