Earlier this week, the communities of Paton and Churdan came together to lift their hearts and thoughts to a woman who left this world too soon.

Vigil services were held this past Monday and Tuesday in memory of the late Heather Lansman, who was the Paton-Churdan School Secretary. She passed away on Thursday, June 19th when an embankment gave way suddenly as she was on a riding lawnmower. The mower then rolled on top of her, pinning her under water in the creek. 

P-C Counselor Libby Towers was one of the organizers of the vigil services and she described the kind of person Lansman was.

“You know, Heather was a co-worker, but as I look back at it, she really grew to be such a good friend, again that supporter, my go-to. I can’t name how many different times I’m like, ‘Oh, I should snap Heather about this,’ or ‘Oh my gosh, Heather would’ve gotten such a kick out of something that just happened with the kids,’ or a pretty bird when we had goldfinches outside of our window. So, she was a friend, she was a model of how to have grace, and show that love and support to everybody.”      

Superintendent Brian Johnson commented that every interaction he had with her during his first year as the new superintendent was always positive and she really cared about each and every person that was at P-C, even to the point where she would put what he needed to the side to be there for a student.

“They needed someone to listen to, they needed someone to love them, they needed someone to positively affirm the direction that they were going. And she was just incredible when it came to that aspect of knowing about every child, almost every parent, every staff member’s life. Just the right things to say and the right things to do to comfort them. She was just absolutely amazing.”  

Visitation services are taking place tonight from 4-7pm at the Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home in Perry. The Celebration of Life services will be tomorrow at 11am at the Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines.