Doris Laverne Lauff Kemnitz's Obituary
Doris was born November 28, 1930, and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. She passed away October 25, 2018 in Dallas, Texas.Doris lived in St. Louis and became a Christian as a result of teenagers knocking on the family’s door delivering tracts, and looking to start a children’s Sunday school program. Doris’s mother was Catholic and her father was a Lutheran who demanded that their children be raised Lutheran (even though they never went to church – although in later years, it was the fervent prayers of Doris that led her parents to the Lord). The first Sunday school Doris attended was located above a tavern. When she was 3 years old, her German atheist grandfather would deliver her upstairs for her class while he remained downstairs in the saloon, drinking. The Lord definitely had His hand upon her life from the onset.Doris started playing the piano as a result of her father’s love for music. The first time she played a pipe organ was at the age of 11 in a children’s church service. By age 13 she was the organist of the church. Doris went through the Lutheraneducation system, obtaining a scholarship to the St. Louis School of Music at age 16 as a result of winning a piano contest. After graduating from high school, she received a scholarship to St. Louis University. Doris’s many accomplishments included being one of the first to play an organ live on FM Radio Station KFWO in St. Louis.Doris taught piano for 25 years. She was an organist and choir director of adult, youth and children for 35 years in churches from St. Louis, Missouri, to Klamath Falls, Oregon, to Austin and Dallas, Texas. In this capacity, she directed performances of oratorios and requiems.Doris met the love of her life, Dayne Kemnitz, in Austin, Texas, while she was the organist and choir director of St. Paul Lutheran Church. Dayne was in her choir. They built a beautiful life together raising their children and faithfully serving the Lord with their talents. The early years of their marriage were shaped by Biblical principle conferences and training they pursued for successful living according to God’s Word. One of Doris’s best days was when she received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. It changed her life forever. She lived to consume the Word of God and apply it to every part of her life. As a result of them realizing there was so much more of God, they set out on a journey and the Lord led them to a Spirit-filled church.Playing music to worship the Lord Jesus Christ was Doris’s first love, and she chose to use her talent almost exclusively in that area. She was music director at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church for over a decade. She ministered in her later years as the head organist of Restland Funeral Home for 30 years. She and Dayne, along with close friends, ministered in music at a nearby nursing home every Sunday before heading to church for several years. With a true servant’s heart, her life was one of love, sacrifice and ministry to others. Her Christ-centered unshakeable character was without bounds.Following her three strokes in 2015 and being stripped of everything, Doris demonstrated incredible strength, courage, endurance, patience and long suffering. Having gone through many forms of despair and difficulty, she still praised God in the midst of her suffering, never losing faith in the One in whom she believed. Her faithful husband, Dayne, never left her bedside until the day of his passing. Even though Doris was unable to speak, with compassion, she spoke with her eyes that shown brightly with the love of Jesus and reached out to others with such gentleness and kindness. The legacy she left for her family will never fade.Doris was such an inspiration to all who knew her and impacted many lives. The love of Christ exuded from her in every way, her smile lighting up the room along with her infectious laughter, wisdom and compassion, drawing all who knew her to Him. Doris truly was a Proverbs 31 woman: “She is a woman of strength and dignity, and has no fear of old age. When she speaks, her words are wise and kindness is the rule for everything she says. She watches carefully all that goes on throughout her household, and is never lazy. Her children stand and bless her; so does her husband. He praises her with these words: ‘There are many fine women in the world, but you are best of them all.’” Proverbs 31:25-29 (Living Bible)She lived her whole life for JESUS, and now she’s praising Him, singing again and playing the piano for her Saviour, joining the heavenly choir. Truly an Overcomer, she has now cast her crown of jewels at His feet. We celebrate her life and praise God that she’s with her Creator and worshiping Him with the angels and truly experiencing her favorite verse:Psalm 27:4 – “One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple.Doris was preceded in death by her beloved husband Dayne, her parents, Jacob Lauff and Edna Richter Lauff, brother, Jack Lauff, sister, Jacqueline Lauff Haumesser, and step-grandson Michael Nabor.She is survived by her daughter, Jackie Kemnitz, two sons, David Graef and wife, Diane, and Jonathan Graef and wife, Missy, five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, and eight step-great-grandchildren.Family will receive friends on Wednesday, October 31, 2018 from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Restland Funeral Home, 13005 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75243 (North of I635 at Hwy 75, near Richland College).The Service will be held on Thursday, November 1, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at Freedom Church, 2435 Hebron Parkway, Carrollton, Texas 75010.Funeral arrangements have been faithfully entrusted to Restland Funeral Home and Cemetery, 13005 Greenville Avenue, at Restland Road, Dallas, Texas 75243.
What’s your fondest memory of Doris?
What’s a lesson you learned from Doris?
Share a story where Doris' kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Doris you’ll never forget.
How did Doris make you smile?