Nyberg, Luanne Larsen age 73, passed away unexpectedly but peace-fully in her sleep on January 5, 2020. Luanne was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1946. She was preceded in death by her parents, Alice Brown Larsen and Dr. Robert Arthur Larsen, and her sister, Molly George. She is survived by her children, Ingrid Culp, Will Ziegenhagen, Brian Ziegenhagen; her son-in-law, Chris Culp, her daughter-in-law, Steffany Stern; her grandchildren, Oliver Culp, Lauren Culp and Tess Culp; and her honorary son, Gee Zelee, all of whom she absolutely adored. Luanne is also survived by her sisters, Libby Larsen, Duffy Abramson and Maggie Parkhurst, and their families, and many dear friends. Luanne graduated from Southwest High School in Minneapolis, received her undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota, and received a Master's in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School. Luanne devoted her four-decade public health career to tirelessly and tenaciously advocating on behalf of low-income families, including as founder and Executive Director of the Minnesota office of the Children's Defense Fund, a senior public health adviser on tobacco to the Minnesota Attorney General during the groundbreaking Minnesota tobacco trial, and a Senior Health Care Policy Analyst for Hennepin County. Luanne was an avid organic gardener, loved to cook, delighted in flowers and animals of all kinds, especially dogs and birds, adored music and dancing, and knit beautifully. She loved to travel, welcomed all in her home, and was generous of her time and heart beyond compare. Luanne volunteered around the country as a cook for the Sierra Club, served as Board Chair for Books for Africa, cooked meals for people living with HIV/AIDS at Agape Dos, volunteered with the Iraqi American Reconciliation Project, and fostered animals for the Animal Humane Society. But what Lulu loved most of all, was her children and her grandchildren. She was an extraordinary mother and Grandma - making tea and cookies, snuggling on the couch, giving foot rubs, popping over at a moment's notice, planning adventures near and far, and delighting in their every move. She was over the moon to become a Grandma again to Will and Steff's twins later this year, already well under way planning for a nursery at her home. Mom and Grandma Lulu, you spent your entire life making this world a better place. We are so very thankful you were ours. We will love you forever and take your love with us everywhere we go. A celebration of Luanne's life is planned for Friday, January 17, 2020 at 4 p.m. with a reception to follow and visitation beginning at 2:30 p.m., all at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 4537 3rd Ave. S. Memorials preferred to Books for Africa, the Sierra Club, or the Animal Humane Society.

Published on January 12, 2020