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Laura Jahnke: September 15, 1984 - February 19, 2007

I met Laura on a sunny spring day when she was a prospective, but it was not until finals week that we really became close friends. Like survivors of a disaster, we banded together to survive a week of hellish studying. We lived in the Periodicals Room at the library, taking turns reading and sleeping—always talking. Then suddenly Facebook was open to us. In those dark days, when any distraction could take us off our carefully planned study schedule, we were introduced to the ultimate form of procrastination. I know that Facebook is silly and we were nearly insane with sleep deprivation at this point but that is how I remember her. In the moments when finals seemed endless, Laura and I dreamed of a picnic at the boathouse. We fantasized about this picnic because it was the antithesis of all we were doing. It was our beacon of hope and I wish now that we had done it. I want to remember Laura as my friend through thick and thin, through late nights and stale crackers. I loved Laura because no matter how desperate our chances looked for finishing everything, it was never too late to have fun and to dream.
- Irene Maslanik ‘07

My favorite memory of Laura is meeting with her and other students for prayer at 8:00 a.m. in the cold in front of the Chapel during the spring of 2005. What a warrior she was, and how she loved this community! - Bonnie Kestner, Associate Professor of Physical Education

In true Laura fashion, I hope we all remember her famous line, “Go Team.” (For those who are not “Photogs,” Laura called us a team and she always encouraged us to be great. She would say “Go Team” to express her love for us.) Laura Jahnke was the friend of all friends. I only knew her for a short time, but it was time well spent. One day before exams she was studying in the basement of Babcock, trying to get away from distractions, and I had a conversation with her that I will always remember. She was studying for a history final and I began asking her about her history degree. She said, “I just love history, but I want to be a missionary.” She wanted to travel the world and tell others about how great God was to her. This is typical Laura, always thinking of others. After I heard the news about Laura, I immediately remembered that conversation. I thought she got her wish. We are all better people to have known her. - A Photo Friend

One of my most memorable experiences with Laura was the time we were baking cookies, cakes, and pastries for the Habitat for Humanity bake sale at Louise Zingaro’s house. Louise left Laura and me in her kitchen and we got to work. I put my first batch of cookies in the oven, but I am not the world’s greatest cook. I went to take the cookies out of the oven and they looked great on top. I let them cool and then realized that they were burned on the bottom. By this time, Laura saw what I’d done, and decided we couldn’t let the cookies go to waste. So, she started eating the top of the cookies and then gave the burnt part to Bud, Louise’s cocker spaniel. Laura said we couldn’t let my hard work go to waste. She had a way of making a bad experience into a funny one that definitely brought a smile to my face. I redeemed myself with the next tray of cookies, much to Laura’s disappointment. She really liked eating the tops of the cookies. Laura had the bright idea that we would start studying for our Laufenberg final while we were baking, but did we even pull our notes out of our bags? No. We were at Louise’s house well past midnight. Every time I try to bake something, I always think of that night with her.
- Heidi Trude ‘07

My favorite memory of Laura: during the high point of studying for any exam, I would find Laura in the Photo Lab in the basement of Babcock. She was there for two reasons, (1) quiet seclusion from others and (2) no wi-fi could be broadcast to her laptop and facebook was inaccessible. One particular night, she and Amanda Wisz were there together, and deciding to take a break from studying, they re-enacted the final shoot-out scene from Life Aquatic to the song “Ping Island”. They proceeded to dance/shoot/dodge one another all over the classroom. It was of course that magic hour after 2 a.m. when everything is brilliant.
- Kylene Hayslett ‘07

There are many wonderful memories that I am grateful to have of Laura throughout the past two and a half years. However, what I’d like to share is not a favorite memory, but a favorite word; not from my own mind, but from Laura’s. It is the word “team.” She used it quite often, and with it, always brought a greater perspective. On nights when the twelve of us from the class of 2008 would gather before a QV drop, it would not be unusual to hear her say, “Okay team, what’s our strategy?” Or during some of the Tuesday morning Student Relations Committee meetings, she might express some thoughts on the coming events for our “team.” Not only did her use of the word express her 100% dedication and enthusiasm for the group of people she was a part of and the goal being worked towards, but it seemed to strengthen our unity, which always gave more power to the group. Now, it has become one of my favorite words.
- Erin Rogers ‘08

I didn't know Laura intimately like many on campus were privileged to, but I did observe on the sidelines in admiration and respect of her incredible bravery, the wonderful network of friends she garnered on campus during her brief time here, and the genuine love she had for this College. Having children of my own, I can't imagine losing one. It is definitely not the natural flow of life, and I am so touched by their strength and closeness with one another. My thoughts and prayers remain with the Jahnke family during this difficult time.
- Karen L. Summers, President’s Office

While watching “Forrest Gump” with Laura one night, we saw the wonderful scene where the braces fall off of Forrest's legs. At this point, Forrest states, "From that point on, wherever I was going, I was running!" Laura immediately commented on this phrase. She stated that this was so her and it was going to be her new motto. When I think of Laura, I always think of that movie. To me, Laura had the most wonderful spirit. It didn't matter what came her way, she was always smiling and willing to help others. I know she touched so many lives, and to me that is the point of life. Thank you, Laura, for touching us all.
- Mary Petrie ‘07

A testament to Laura’s strength and perseverance even in the toughest of times was just this past spring, when myself, Laura and Katie Vaughan ‘06 tapped our newest QV into our lineage. Laura had come back to campus in late spring, so we as a family decided to tap our little one. Even though Laura was in considerable discomfort from her feeding tube, she managed to dress up in all black clothing, put on a fake full-faced gas mask (her idea, and all three of us had to do it), and go hide in a barn in the middle of the night to wait on the mystery baby to arrive. When the young lady appeared, Laura told me and Katie to hide behind a tractor and be as quiet as possible. I think one of the hardest things was trying not to burst out laughing while watching Laura whisper directions to us while crouching behind a tractor wheel in a gas mask. When the little one arrived, Laura counted to three, and we proceeded to run at full speed out of the darkness yelling at the top of our lungs and scaring the poor girl half to death. I have never laughed so hard in my entire life! Laura’s strength and energy even when being so sick never ceased to amaze me.
-Ferrell Lyles ‘07

It was Memorial Day Weekend 2005. I was living and working in Washington, D.C. Laura, her parents, and her grandparents visited her sister, Kate, for the holiday weekend. Laura invited me to go with her family to the Memorial Day Concert on Capitol Hill. Afterwards, we needed to ride the metro to go home. Kate, trying to avoid the crowd, led us to the metro stop by what she thought would be a shortcut. The path she led us on was longer than she had anticipated. Laura grabbed her grandpa’s arm for support as she walked. We grew tired of walking – especially Laura – and we began to complain a bit. Mimi (Laura’s grandmother) declared, “I think this is a trick to make us lose weight!” Laura responded, “I know an easy way to lose weight: have surgery and lose 10 pounds without ever working out!” We all died laughing. Laura showed to me a better way to enjoy life, and I thank God for giving me such an extraordinary friend!
- Lieschen Cluiss ‘08

I met Laura in 2005 and was immediately drawn to her passionate faith and her joy in living. She plunged into playing banjo with Joe Malloy and piano with me, enthusiastically seizing these opportunities. It is her zeal for each day and her tender-hearted caring for others that I will long remember.
- Dr. Rebecca McCord, Professor of Music

I will remember a lot about Laura; she meant a great deal to me and she was my friend. But the thing I will remember the most is her ability to go to the bathroom almost anywhere. If she had to go, it didn't matter where she was or what she was doing—she would just plop down and go. On QV group revealing night she couldn't hold it any longer so a few of the girls took her behind a tree, and then another night (I wasn't there but she told me about it later) during a QV drop she couldn't leave the room because the Bums were outside of the door so she went to the bathroom in the sink. When she told me about it she laughed and laughed. I will definitely miss her laugh.
- Rebekah McSpadden ‘07

The memories I share with Laura are some of the happiest of my life. Even when I think of the last time I saw her at her boathouse birthday/going away party in September, and how much pain she was in then, and how much pain she would still have to endure, I can only remember the beautiful sunset, the wonderful food, the abundant happiness, and the smile on Laura's face. I find it hard to talk about Laura in the past tense, because to me at least, I feel that she is still with us. She is an excellent role model for all of us to follow. She never fails to recognize the simple pleasures of life, and the grace of God. My life—and all our lives—are infinitely richer for simply knowing her.
- Katie-Beth Ryan ‘07