William Edward Laskowski

William Edward Laskowski, Jr., 57, of Jamestown, ND, died Saturday, August 18, 2007, in flight to MeritCare Hospital in Fargo, ND.

Bill was born August 24th, 1949, in Chicago, IL, to William E. Laskowski, Sr. and Doris (Lowe) Laskowski. He attended Quigley North High School, Niles College Seminary, and Loyola University. He obtained his bachelor?s, master?s, and doctorate degrees from the University of Illinois at Chicago. On June 19th, 1976, Bill married Dina Losurdo in Elmwood Park, IL, at St. Celestine?s Catholic Church. They lived in Chicago until July 1991 when they moved to Jamestown, ND, where he worked as a professor and chair of the Department of English at Jamestown College. He was the author of numerous books, articles, and publications.

A voracious reader, Bill was willing and able to converse knowledgeably on a wide variety of topics. He also had a deep love and knowledge of both music and film. He enjoyed working with students, mentoring them and fostering within them the love of literature; he was named Professor of the Year at Jamestown College in 1999. Bill taught a broad range of literature courses at the college and was involved in many committees and programs, most recently the Dakota Spirit Writing Workshop. He recently served as an advisor concerning the possibility of establishing a Louis L?Amour Interpretive Center in Jamestown.

First and foremost, Bill was a loving husband and father, and a kind and gentle man. With a love of laughter, he was a calming and sustaining presence who shared his rich intellectual life with his wife and boys. Bill is survived by wife, Dina, sons, William John (?Billy?) and Daniel Joseph (?Dan?), sisters Mary Ellen (Joe) Marzullo, Susan (Mike) Gleeson, brother Mark (Pam) Laskowski, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Doris and his brother, Paul.

Funeral Service: 12:00 p.m.,Tuesday, August 21st, at Basilica of St. James.

Visitation: Monday, August 20th, from 12:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Eddy Funeral Home, Jamestown, ND.

Prayer service: 7:30 p.m., Monday, August 20th at the Basilica of St. James.

Burial: Calvary Cemetery, Jamestown, ND.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Bill?s name toward a scholarship at Jamestown College.