Desert Messenger

February 17, 2021 www.DesertMessenger.com 25 • Birth • Obituary • Anniversary Place it FREE in the: Desert Messenger! 928-916-4235 Got something to share? A scientific quarantine project In Memoriam James "Jim" Laeng, 80, of So- nora, passed away on January 28, 2021 at Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa, Arizona after a bat- tle with Covid Pneumonia. He was a beloved husband, brother, father, uncle, papa and friend. Jim was born in Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania on February 14th to John George Laeng and Anna Lil- lian Moore. He was the youngest of three children. Jim met Arlene, then Fraijo, in Azusa, California. They moved to Sonora, California 50 years ago and were married on August 10th, 1970 at St Patrick's Church. Jim worked for the United States Postal Service for 33 years, fi rst as a letter carrier, then as a Postmaster in Pinecrest, and fi nally as a super- visor in Sonora before retiring. Jim and Arlene also owned Heritage Dry Cleaners for 15 years before re- tiring, again. Jim was an avid Pittsburgh Steel- ers fan for his entire life. He played softball for 20 years and was often seen at Merlo Field. He also enjoyed his daily dose of desert golf while in Quartzsite, Arizona. His grandchil- dren claim he was the best waffl e ice cream sandwich maker. He also held the SYP club title in two states. Jim is survived by his wife of 50 years, Arlene Laeng; sister Helen Fikse; children Colleen Laeng, Doug By Jackie Deal Quarantining does strange things to the brain. Especially if you're a well-organized, scientifi cally- ori- ented, analytical thinker. (Not any- body I know!) My brain was turn- ing to mush; I needed something "scientifi c" to occupy it. Some kind of research, yes that was it. But stuck indoors, what was there to research? Some scientists research really strange things, like should bats wear sunglasses in the day time or do crickets rub their hind legs to- gether more when they're in love? What did that leave me to research? And then I looked around: Ah ha! From the bedroom came dust bun- nies fl ooding across the fl oor. Could dust bunnies be taught to march in formation? Maybe even salute? And then I noticed the spider webs. Could spiders be taught to weave cute little placemats instead of fl y catchers? Good research requires a suffi cient "n", that's the number of subjects being tested. Well, good grief, I cer- tainly had that! And then you need control groups. One group gets the prescribed treatment and the other gets a placebo, virtually nothing. Then you run tests to see which group… oh, well, you get the idea. Now how to divide my dust bunnies into groups? I suppose I could use a broom but that might harm the little darlings. (And violate my no housework policy.) About that time a draft of wind swept across the fl oor and part of the bunnies scurried forward. Awe, yes. We now have a control group and, and, the back- draft swept the rest of the dust bun- nies back under the bed. I am not about to get down on my hands and knees to coax them back out. Can you think of anything more undig- nifi ed than an 80+ year old woman on hands and knees cooing to the dust bunnies: "Come out, come out wherever you are?" Forget the dust bunnies. How about spider webs? Have you ever noticed how beautiful spider webs are in the light? Or outside in the dew drops? Awe, they just sparkle and shim- mer. Bur also, have you noticed that they're not perfect? No, they aren't symmetrical or even well-balanced. Gee, you wouldn't want a place mat that was all off kilter, would you? So there's the research project!! Let's see if I can teach the spiders to spin a perfectly symmetrical web and then you can worry about how to make a place mat out of it. I'm not crafty and that would take a re- ally crafty person. I'm just lazy; it's easier to dream up research proj- ects than it is to clean! Shall we be a team? I'll supply the spider webs and you make the place mats. Calamity after calamity, both in our families and in our nation, have occurred in the last year. No one should go through these times alone. Have you faced calamity in your life? A loss of a loved one through natural, suicide or another tragic event? Do not walk through it alone. Are you struggling with loneliness, depression or some- thing else that keeps you from ex- periencing life? You're not alone. Gather with others who are facing the calamity in their lives by get- ting together. Meeting Mondays at 1pm at the Alliance Church. No judgement, no preaching, no pomp and circum- stance, just hurt people meeting to lean on each other for help. Coffee, juice and a treat will be provided. Don't walk these trou- bled times alone. You are loved. 720 W. Desert Vista St., Quartzsite, AZ. Call Lucy Duell for information, 928-662-8067. Grief Support Group JAMES "JIM" LAENG 2/14/1940 – 1/28/2021 Sims, Julie Ogg, Maureen (Terry) Harrity, Robert (Lydette) Laeng, Patrick (Tammy) Laeng; 11 grand- children and 8 great grandchildren. Jim was preceded in death by his parents John and Anna Laeng; his fi rst wife Mona Laeng; brother Jack Laeng; nephew Tom Diethrich; sons Robert "Bob" Sims and Michael Laeng; and granddaughter Tami Smith. Arrangements are being handled by Terzich and Wilson. There will be a private family service and burial. There will be a public Celebration of Life in the future as Covid restrictions are lifted. In lieu of fl owers, please donate to your favorite charities.

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