Compiled and written by David R. Schleper, 2021
Laura Reiko was born in Tokyo, Japan in the year of the Dragon, on September 17, 1928. Her father was Keichi Ito Nakamura and her mother was Jeannine Facio Ito. Laura lived in Japan for several years before moving to America.
Laura survived World War II in Japan, and moved to Minnesota in 1952 with her husband, Duane Rolf Shellum, who was born in Madelia, Minnesota on January 6, 1930. His parents were Elmer Gerhard Shellum and Grace Parsons Shellum.
Laura lived her life through her passions, and became an accomplished dancer, linguist, traveler and teacher, according to the August 24, 2015 Minneapolis Star Tribune.
She was a longtime volunteer at the Festival of Nations and founded the Minnihon Arts Center in 1973 to share her Japanese heritage with the people of Minnesota. She served as a Japanese cultural advisor to many schools, colleges, and museums, including Pearson Elementary School in Shakopee.
Origami, eating with chopsticks, and Japanese calligraphy were some of the topics that Laura covered while with the fourth graders at Person Elementary School on February 7, 1972. According to an article in the Shakopee Valley News called “Japanese Woman Helped Youngsters Discover the Orient’s Culture” in February 1972, Laura had taught traditional Japanese dance, creative movement, ballet, and Sumi-e painting for her entire adult life. Teacher Jane Keyes invited Laura to the school.
The fourth graders had been learning about the 1972 Winter Olympics, held from February 3 to 13, 1972, in Sapporo, Hokkaidō, Japan. It was the first Winter Olympic Games to take place outside Europe and North America. The students wanted to learn about Japan, so they were excited when Laura showed up.
The students watched as Laura wrote the numbers from one to ten, using Japanese brushes and ink. She told them that she mixes her own ink, and that each person must individually mix their own ink to match their calligraphy. They ate some dried seaweed, which was a delicacy in Japan.
Laura Reiko Shellum Koeck was an adored matriarch for her family. When Duane Rolf Shellum died in 1984, it was hard, but it helped that her five sons, Eric, Richard, Kirk, Alec, and George were around to help. In 2004, Laura married for a second time to Eugene Leonard Koeck.
Laura died at age 86 on August 20, 2015. She was buried at the Fort Snelling Cemetery with her first husband, Duane Shellum.
Bibliography
Minneapolis Star Tribune, 24 Aug. 2015.
“Japanese Woman Helped Youngsters Discover the Orient’s Culture.” Shakopee Valley News.