Memorial

Lanette Claire Passman (Lani) passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at Cottage Grove Place, Cedar Rapids, IA, her residence for 15 years.  In those final Hospice days, she was surrounded by friends and family, soothing music, wonderful caregivers and deep sleep, as her body gave up to natural causes at age 95.

CHILDHOOD 
Landon and Francis Kasbaum welcomed their second daughter Lanette into the world January 17, 1930 in La Porte, Indiana.  Sister Marilyn Marie was 5 years older.  When Lani was 3 years old, her Grandfather Kasbaum came to live with them.  The two girls grew up in their 2-story house with a roomy front porch, a colorful garden of hollyhocks and a trellis of roses in the back yard near a small barn.  

Lani, a slender girl, was nicknamed “String Bean” by her friends.  She longed to do more grown-up things like her older sister Marilyn was able to.  Being quite responsible, Lani started work at age 15 for Lemick’s Dairy, then transitioned to a dress shop called Miller’s Store.   She became close friends with co-worker Mary (also in high school).   Mary arranged for Lani to double-date with her boyfriend’s college roommate, Harry Passman.  The two couples enjoyed fun escapades at Lake Michigan.

After graduating from La Porte High School, Lani followed her passion for interior design at the Ray Vogue School in Chicago.  The next summer, she accepted an offer to manage the Miller’s Store while the owners were away on trips.  That fall, she could not continue the interior design program in Chicago, because on Nov. 16, 1949, Lani married Harry M. Passman in La Porte, Indiana. 

MARRIED LIFE
The two newlyweds moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where Harry started work as a Mechanical Engineer with Collins Radio Company.   Lani also worked for a short time at Collins on the manufacturing line.  During those early years together, they rented a house and sublet a room to bring in extra money.  They allotted each other a $5 monthly allowance for special items.  Lani bought a Singer Featherweight portable sewing machine to sew Christmas gifts for family members.  

Harry and Lani designed and built their first home, with the help of friends and family.  They moved into it on Seely Avenue the summer of 1953, just before the birth of their first child.  Later, they added a single car attached garage with a bedroom above for their two young children.

Lani encouraged her children to draw, create, and appreciate music.  Being an avid reader, Lani encouraged books for her children with regular trips to the library or the bookmobile. She and Harry both enjoyed dancing, and they attended symphonies and concerts.  Evenings often included popcorn, Pepsi and board games like Clue.  A pet dog was always part of the family.  Lani’s favorite was Roxie, a perky, black Schipperke.  

Family vacations involved boating on the Lake of the Ozarks, where Harry taught Lani how to water ski.  These vacations were always social affairs, where two or three families (close friends from church) would all vacation together.

With a third child on the way, Lani and Harry designed a new house; this time hiring a contractor to build it.  The summer of 1962, the new home on Fox Meadow Drive was ready for the family of five.  Its interior design showcased Lani’s talent.  

Like her mother Francis, Lani was an accomplished seamstress.  She sewed projects big and small: Christmas gifts, clothes, even a sleeping bag for son Richard’s hiking trip to the Teton Mountains, and a jean-tuxedo coat with tails for son Bob.  Many of daughter Carol’s outfits in junior high and high school were Lani creations.  Selecting patterns, fabric and sewing together encouraged Carol to be a seamstress as well, who still treasures Lani’s 1949 Featherweight Singer Sewing machine.

FAMILY & FRIENDS
In Lani’s words, “Family and friends were so very important to me.  I cherished the time spent with them.”  Faith, giving, and relationships were mainstays of Lani’s life.  

At age 16, Lani created special memories with her sister Marilyn’s first daughter, Cathy, who died of leukemia at age 3 or 4.  Lani said, “She was like my first child, I babysat her as a baby, and she was about 2 to 2 1/2 when I married Harry.”

Harry and Lani enjoyed fun times with wholesome groups of people, especially friends from
St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, where Lani was a member for many years.  Outside on the church steps before service, the two of them recruited young couples for the energetic adult Kum Duble Sunday School Class.  Those young adults enthusiastically helped with church social activities, fundraisers, pancake breakfasts, baby showers, building cribs, and sewing drapes for the church nursery.  Four of the couples on the social committee became lifelong family friends, regularly gathering at each other’s homes for potluck dinners, creative games, and fun times for many years.  Several of those families vacationed together—their kids now grown, are still friends.

For every holiday, birthday, and special event, Lani made sure to mail a card with a personal, hand-written note to all the special people in her life.  As her extended family grew, her correspondence spanned generations.

Planning parties, the decorations, the food, and invitations intrigued Lani.  She served in this capacity for her social groups over the years.  Some favorites were Fourscore (a collection of wives whose engineer husbands worked at Collins Radio Company), Widow-widowers and Collins Retirees.  Most dear to her heart was her Chapter LI PEO sisterhood, where she developed a close bond with other women.  In Hospice, she asked for her 50-year PEO pin to be by her side.

SURVIVING FAMILY
Daughter Carol (Richard) Charlson, Panacea, FL; son Richard (Gale) Passman, Westfield, IN; son Robert (Connie) Passman, Columbia, MD. 
 
Grandchildren: Jenna (Tim) Regan, Jared (Jen) Passman, Sabrina Charlson, 
Annie (Scott) Dziwulski, Hannah (Sam) Quarterman.  

Great grandkids: Micah & Brynne Regan; Gwen, Nolan & Kinley Quarterman; Cameron Passman.

PRECEDED IN DEATH BY
Her parents, Landon & Francis Kasbaum, sister Marilyn Palmer, 
Harry Passman, husband of 35 years (too short). 

Cedar Memorial is in care of the cremation and placement of Lani’s urn alongside her husband, Harry.  

At Lani’s request, there will be a simple Celebration of Life at Cottage Grove Place.  Date to be announced.   

In lieu of flowers, please direct donations to Indian Creek Nature Center, website:  indiancreeknaturecenter.org.   Phone: 319-362-0064, address: 5300 Otis RD SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403.

The family would like to thank the Cottage Grove Place Assisted Living Staff and Health Center Staff for all the caring support they provided Lani over the last 4 months of her life. A special thank-you to Mercy Hospice for making her last week peaceful and comfortable.