Lulubel Emerson Pansing, age 92, died peacefully at home on October 18, 2012, with family in attendance. She was born December 18, 1919, in Lincoln Nebraska.
Lu’s parents were Dr. Clarence and Dora Dean (French) Emerson. Clarence was the first trained surgeon in Lincoln. The Emersons lived, and Clarence practiced in Lincoln for more than fifty years. Lu spent most of her life in Lincoln. She attended Prescott, Irving, and Lincoln High School and graduated from the University of Nebraska with a major in English and a minor in French. Her world was infused with a whirlwind of love, laughter and delight when she met Thomas Ray Pansing from Omaha, Nebraska, during her participation with the UNL choir.
In June of 1941, Lu married Tom, a recent graduate of the University of Nebraska College of Law. They moved to Boston where Tom worked for a large insurance company. When WW II broke out, Tom enlisted and Lu returned to the sanctuary of her parent’s home where she and her beloved sister, Virginia Guenzel, remained until the end of the War. Upon his return, Lu and Tom established their home in Lincoln. Together they raised 5 children. Tom practiced law and worked as an insurance executive. In 1973, after 31years of a happy marriage, Tom died prematurely from lung cancer at the age of 55.
With a concern and love for all children, especially those having trouble learning to read, Lu went to Rochester, Minnesota to study the Orton Gillingham Method for remediating children with dyslexia. As the first lay person in Nebraska trained to teach the Orton Gillingham Method, she shared her knowledge and expertise with teachers, volunteers, and parents. She helped form the Nebraska Chapter of the Orton Gillingham Society and lobbied to incorporate this method of teaching dyslexic children into the Lincoln Public Schools curriculum.
Lu worked to make the world a better place. She was elected to the Lincoln Public Schools Board of Education and volunteered her time for the Boards of the Lincoln Community Foundation, the Kenmore House in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and Planned Parenthood and the Nebraska Chamber Orchestra. She loved her association with friends in Sorosis, Questers, PEO and SAI. She was enormously proud of her hometown and was honored as the Arthritis Woman of the Year for her commitment to Lincoln.
She tried to be well informed and well read on the politics of the day and she cared fervently for human rights. She traveled to Washington to join the March for Women’s Equality, Women’s Lives in 1989. She was a lover of books and she loved to learn. She felt books were the gateway to knowledge.
Lu particularly enjoyed the Lincoln Symphony Orchestra and the Lied Performing Arts Center where she was often seen taking her grandchildren with her to share her passion. While her eye for beautiful antiques was evident, it was the pursuit and discovery, usually with family in tow, of the elegant workmanship that fueled her passion for antiquing.
Above all, Lu loved to travel. Once again, she shared her enormous interest in the rest of the world by inviting all of her grandchildren to travel with her. She led them through Europe, visiting art galleries, museums, and places of government, expanding their horizons and instilling in them an openness to love all peoples and cultures.
Summers were spent on Pelican Lake in Minnesota. For 50 years she continued Tom’s vision to gather her family and friends, from the youngest to the eldest. She especially loved the nights spent with up to 11 family guitar players leading folk songs around the campfire.
Lu’s legacy was emblematic of a life well lived. To the family, she embodied wisdom, nurture, encouragement, humility, intelligence and counsel for all. Conversations with Lu were both precious and precise, no posturing, but quiet listening, taking in one’s opinions and gently imparting knowledge as she made her points clear in the kindest, most agreeable manner. She held a tender spot in her heart for everyone, and were she to disagree with someone, it was done with love.
Lu has five children with their four beloved spouses, 10 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren: Ginny and Al Plummer of Atlanta, GA have 4 children: Mike and Gincy Plummer from Park City, UT have Will, Bella, James and Gabi; Bill and Amy Plummer of Atlanta, GA have Brady and Parker; Ben and Mindy Plummer of Atlanta, GA have Landon, Kaitlyn, Mikayla and Hannah; Patti and Dennis Glowatsky of Norfolk, VA have Emerson, Tom Jr. and Jennifer Pansing of Omaha, NE have 2 sons: Wally Pansing and Jeffery Conway from Philadelphia, PA; Dan and Karen Pansing of Western Springs, IL have Anna and Madeline. Jay and Barbette of Silverthorne, CO have one daughter: Libby. Art Pansing lives in Denver, CO. Patty Pansing Brooks and Loel Brooks from Lincoln, NE have 3 children: Taylor, Graham, and Avary, with whom Lu lived the past 10 years of her life. Lu was blessed to have many wonderful nieces and nephews, including Cuz and Kile Johnson, and the other Guenzel and Kansas City Pansing families who blessed her life.
The family would like to thank the treasured Tabitha caregivers and everyone else who watched over Lu.
Services will be held on Saturday, October 27th at 11 AM, at First-Plymouth Congregational Church at 20th and D Streets.
In lieu of flowers, please consider gifting to: The Lincoln Community Foundation Building Fund for First- Plymouth Congregational Church; The Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools; or Planned Parenthood of the Heartland.