Lavaughn "L. J." Mallatt

Lavaughn "L. J." Mallatt age 95 of Laurel, Nebraska died on Friday, December 09, 2022 at Hillcrest Care Center in Laurel. Mass of Christian Burial will be on Wednesday, December 14, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Laurel with the Rev. David Liewer and Rev. Jerry Connealy officiating. Burial will be at the Laurel Cemetery with military rites by the Laurel VFW Post 4504 and Laurel American Legion Post 54.  Visitation will be on Tuesday, at church, from 5-7:00 p.m. with a Vigil Service at 7:00 p.m.  Visitation will continue on Wednesday one hour prior to services. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home in Laurel. Pallbearers will be Mark McCoy, Kyle Knudsen, Ryan Fettig, Justin Larson, Kody Knudsen, and Ron Lundahl. Honorary Pallbearers will be Dennis Dvorak, Austin Dvorak, Alexis Dvorak Nakamura, Roger Tryon, Craig and Arllys Monson, Dave Felber. Lavaughn James was born on September 25, 1927 in Fordyce, Nebraska to Dale and Marie Juliana (Uhing) Mallatt.  He grew up in Wynot, NE and attended Parochial school at Holy Trinity Elementary from 1933-1935, before moving to Laurel on February 12, 1938 at the age of 10 years. He graduated from Laurel High School in 1944. L.J. enlisted in the U.S. Navy Air Corps in 1944 and was discharged in 1946. L.J. was engaged in 1946 and then married Marian Bebee on December 19, 1948 in Laurel, NE. He attended Wayne State College in 1947 and then pursued further education at Valparaiso University in Indiana enrolling in the advanced radio program, completing the necessary course work in 1949. L.J. then returned to Laurel in 1950 and opened up his own radio and TV shop. He also worked as a surveyor with the Nebraska Civil Engineering group as part of the NE Department of Roads. L.J. worked as the Laurel City Administrator from 1952 until his retirement in 1990. He went on to serve as a consultant for the surrounding communities and states in the areas of streets, sewers, and the maintenance and repair of Municipal Power Plants. L.J. was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and served on its board.  He enjoyed bowling, golfing, fishing, hunting and baseball, but his favorite hobby was buying and restoring older aircraft along with piloting on his own. He was a member of the Laurel VFW and the Laurel American Legion groups. L.J. is survived by his daughter Claudia (Dennis) Dvorak; two grandchildren Austin Dvorak, Alexis (Dawn) Nakamura; one great-grandchild Talon Nakamura; a brother William Mallatt; two sisters Shirley Kraemer; Saundra Bottger. He was preceded in death by his parents Dale and Marie Mallatt; wife Marian on 8/24/2012 at the age of 84 years; two brothers Gerald (Phyllis) Mallatt, and Patrick (Joan) Mallatt; sister-in-law Janet Mallatt and two brothers-in-law Alan Bebee and Melvin Bottger. Memorials directed to St. Mary’s Catholic Church 408 Elm Laurel, NE  68745.