Lori Culbertson Harris

Lori’s funeral will be held on Thursday August 21st at 10:30 a.m at Cedar Heights Community Presbyterian Church in Cedar Falls. Light refreshments and fellowship will follow the service. IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, Memorials may be directed to the family for use in funding a scholarship in her honor for those studying creative writing.

Lori Culbertson Harris was born March 25, 1964. She inherited a farm wife’s work ethic from her mother, Myrna Culbertson. She shared an exceptional memory for people and events with her father Harry Culbertson. Older sister Sue (Basten) rounded out the immediate family who occupied a cabin served by an outhouse in extremely rural Clayton County for the first year of Lori’s life. She grew up with many extended family and was particularly close to her paternal grandparents who lived just down the gravel road near Wood Center, Iowa.

Lori was a proud graduate of Edgewood-Colesburg high school where she was a lead in the play, Harvey; spoke at her graduation; and participated in speech, sports and art. Her class voted her “most changed” at the 20 year reunion, an award she never understood. Her husband thinks she just found her voice in the intervening years.

Lori was hired at her first job after graduation from UNI over the objection of her immediate supervisor, who would later become a dear friend, because the radio station’s owner insisted that she be hired upon learning that she was raised on a farm. She did not disappoint.

She met her husband, John Harris while she was a student getting her Masters of Social Work at the University of Iowa. They married in June of 1994.

Lori had the ability to focus upon the person in front of her and to make that person feel heard, understood and accepted unconditionally. This ability was affectionately known as her superpower and she freely shared it with everyone whether they were age 8 or 98.

Another strength was her ability to meet adversity head on and turn it into a positive. When Multiple Sclerosis forced her to quit working for pay at UNI, she used the free time to focus on her poetry and other creative pursuits. She dearly loved all of her writer’s groups as much for the poetry they created as for the fellowship they shared.

Lori was well loved throughout her life. First by her parents, sister and extended family and then by those who came to know her. Those of us who now mourn her can honor her memory by taking the time to authentically connect with others without pretense, judgment or limits. Lori knew that real wealth increases when we spread kindness and is measured by the quality of the personal connections made with others.

Lori died peacefully and pain free thanks to the excellent care of Unity Point Hospice on August 13th 2025. Survivors include her spouse, John Harris; her parents, Harry and Myrna; her Sister Sue Basten; one Niece Salina Basten and one Nephew Kreig Basten.