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Porter-Soukup, Laura
LAURA PORTER-SOUKUP
Coralville
Laura Lee Porter-Soukup, 49, of West Branch, formerly of Coralville, passed away in her home Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014, due to complications from cancer. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, at Lensing Oak Hill in Coralville. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 17, at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established with the West Branch Elementary School to purchase books for students.
Laura was born Nov. 19, 1964, at Pascack Valley Hospital in Westwood, N.J., the second child of Melvin M. II and Rachel (Keeley) Porter. At the age of 9, she moved with her family to Coralville, Iowa, where she lived until adulthood. She graduated from Iowa City West High School in 1982 and from the University of Iowa in 1986 with a degree in social work.
Laura married Kyle Soukup on March 23, 2002, in Iowa City, Iowa. She was the proud mother of daughters, Sarah Elizabeth and Emma Ruth of West Branch. She enjoyed spending time with her family, watching her daughters in their numerous activities, knitting and her dogs.
Laura worked for 26 years for Muscatine County Community Services spending a majority of that time in the Trust Services department. Laura served as an advocate and legal guardian for those who were often without a voice in their own lives. Laura cared deeply for her clients and continued to work right up to the point her illness prevented it.
Laura is survived by her husband and daughters; her mother, Rachel K. Porter of Coralville; her sister, R. Keeley Porter, also of Coralville; and her brother, M. Montgomery Porter III and his wife, Mellissa, of Portage, Mich.
She is also survived by her father-in-law, Richard Soukup of Kalona; and brothers-in-law, Kirk Soukup and wife Karen of Middletown, and Brad Soukup and wife Tina of Muscatine.
Other survivors include her uncle and aunt, Clyde and Margaret Porter of Arlington, Texas, and V. Lee Keeley of Plymouth, Minn.; her many nieces and nephews; and many loving cousins. She also will be missed by her co-workers and many friends.
Laura was preceded in death by her father, Melvin M. Porter II; and her mother-in-law, Iris Soukup.
Online condolences may be sent at www.lensing
funeral.com.
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