Obituary
Laura June Lockwood, 74, died peacefully on December 30, 2025 after a lengthy struggle with Alzheimer’s. She was born on June 8, 1951 in Manistique, Michigan, the eldest of Ben and Gladys Lockwood’s five children. Gladys was the daughter of Swedish immigrants; Ben was a carpenter with native-American ancestry. Late in life, Laura was proud of that ancestry and of her elder status in the Sault Ste. Marie tribe.
Laura grew up in the Upper Penninsula (UP), the big sister to her four rambunctious brothers. Later she chose a career that fit her abiding goal of helping others. While a single mom with two young children she managed to complete her studies at Northern Michigan (BA) and Michigan State (MSW) to become a social worker. During her career, she did all the hard work we ask of social workers, including the last few years as a school social worker at Lakewood, MI.
Laura brought the same compassion that fueled her work to her personal life. She was a gifted listener, intent on understanding others, not judging them. And she had an infectious smile that could light up a room and every heart in it.
What were a few of her favorite things? A glass of wine and conversation after a long day. Long walks, taking nature pictures along the way. Listening and singing along to music of all sorts, from Irish trad to folk to boomer rock — Gordon Lightfoot, Bonnie Raitt, Mark Knopfler, Van Morrison, Joni Mitchell and the Eagles were some of her favorites. Later in life, travel with her husband, Norb, and close friends (the Oas’s, the Morelands, the Enchanted April crew). An opportunity to live abroad part-time made Canterbury England and new friends there special. And most of all, her family–to help them whenever she could, and to share in their sorrows and their joys.
She is survived by her loving husband, Norbert Kerr; her mother and step-father, Gladys and Don Linderoth; three children, Nicole Senkbeil, Ben Demers, & Justin Caine and their spouses, Brian, Judy, and Meaghan; three brothers, Jeff, Jim, and Paul Lockwood; three step-sons, Ben Kerr, Gabriel Kerr, and Josh Wald-Kerr; and six grandchildren, Dakota & Grace Senkbeil, Felicity & Silas Caine, and Judah & Birdie Kerr.
She is preceded in death by her father, Ben Lockwood, and by her brother, Adrian Lockwood.
Virtual Celebration of Life
Recorded Saturday June 6, 2026
1:00pm Eastern Time
Laura’s family invites you to view the virtual celebration of life service & reception to honor her life and legacy.
Ashes Scattering:
GIGA WAABAMIN MINOA
On the morning of Laura’s Celebration of Life, a few family and friends gathered on the sandy bank of Stutts Creek north of Manistique Michigan to scatter Laura’s ashes following the native American traditions of her family’s tribe, the Sault Ste. Marie Chippewa Tribe. Laura’s brother, Paul Lockwood, officiated. He explained that there was no word for Goodbye in the Anishinaabe language, only the expression “Giga Waabamin Minoa,” meaning “Until we meet again.” Laura’s nephew, Jason Lockwood, recorded the ceremony which you can access below:
Anyone wishing to return to this spot to honor Laura, its what3words location is ///monumental.take.assorted. or you can access the location in Google Maps here. It is just below a bridge over Stutts Creek on Highwater Truck Road:
Slideshow
Please enjoy this playlist of musical selections beloved by Laura while you peruse the photo gallery below:
Sign-in to your Spotify account by clicking the Spotify logo in the top-right corner of the playlist widget to listen to the songs in their entirety.
Photo Gallery
Here are some photos of Laura, including ones with family and friends. Laura loved to take nature pictures when she went for walks; there are also a few of these in the gallery. Click the diagonal arrows in the upper-right hand corner below to view the gallery in full-screen view.
Laura and Norb’s Wedding
January 3, 1998, Manistique, Michigan
This video begins with a couple of minutes of rehearsal—lighting and sound checks. The wedding ceremony and reception follow. The lighting and sound quality are poor but with a bit of effort, you can follow what’s going on.
In lieu of flowers please consider donating to Hospice of Lansing or the Alzheimer’s Association.
Hospice of Lansing provided amazing care for Laura during her last days. Laura would be honored to know you were supporting them in her name.
Your generosity towards research, resources, and support for people with Alzheimer’s makes a difference in so many lives.
We first met Laura at a family get-together in Würzburg, Germany, when Norbert first introduced us to her. We especially remember when she was there during the carnival season she had so much fun singing, drinking, and celebrating with us, and we enjoyed her kind and joyful company very much. We soon learned about her love for a fine bottle of wine, which we all shared. 😉
Even if we haven’t met her that often, we will always remember her as the loving person she was when we did.
Thank you so much for sharing all of your stories and memories about Laura, it was all so heartwarming and simply beautiful. Our thoughts are with you all, and we wish you all the best.
As you said, Norbert, she would like us to celebrate her life. Therefore, we raise our glasses to you all in her memory. Cheers.
Markert Family, Silke, Thomas, Luisa, Nadine and Erik
I met Laura many times when visiting Norb during our research collaboration, and enjoyed her wonderful hospitality, contagious joy, warmth, great discussions about how to raise children, and stories about driving Porsches. I will always remember how we made Sushi together in their house, and I’m glad that she and Norb could visit us in Münster (Germany) before Laura went ill. I will keep these memories in my mind, and my thoughts are with you.
I’ve met Laura also through Norb, when he was visiting professor at Leiden University in The Netherlands during his sabbatical. We had wonderful times together. I remember Laura from those days as a warm and dedicated storyteller to our two little children Jelmer and Nienke, now in their 30s….
Franziska and I remember Laura very fondly as an adorable person, insipring to talk to, charming, and likeable.
She and Norbert spent time with us in Switzerland, we saw them in the US, I remember a very interesting visit to a great museum, and I remember spending time with them in Michigan.
So, we were very sad to learn about her illness, and obviously even more when we learned about her passing away.
We certainly will always have fond memories of Laura.
Although I didn’t know her well, I was lucky enough to spend an entire day with Laura and Norb at the Keukenhof in The Netherlands. Laura was delighted by the tulips and a font of knowledge. I remember this as a wonderful day with great people. My thoughts are with you.
I met Laura through Norb, my advisor at MSU.
She and Norb invited my wife and me several times over for Thanksgiving, where they treated us with such warmth.
Laura’s warm hospitality, the delicious food, and the joyful conversations we shared are all cherished memories for which I am deeply grateful.
I am grateful to Laura for creating memories I will never forget.
She will always remain in our hearts.
Dong-Heon and Ji-Hyeong from Korea
I met her during visits of Norbert & Laura at Wuerzburg/Bavaria/Germany – the former homecity of Norberts mom.
There were meetings with all cousins & partners of the „Ellmer-famliy“, where Norberts mom, „Traudl“ comes from.
Laura had a fine feeling in recognizing the importend situation for Norbert, beeing part of a great family in Germany.
Laura, thanks for good discousions and kindness!
You will be not forgotten for us! ♥️♥️♥️