Dagmar Elizabeth Vasby, age 106, of Cambridge, Wis., died on Dec. 25, 2013, at Agrace HospiceCare in
Fitchburg. Her life was committed to Christ, a life that touched lives around the globe.
Dagmar was born in Moorhead, Iowa, on Feb. 12, 1907, the second of 10 children born to Danish
immigrants, Niels Christian and Laura Petersen. Her father received degrees from Dana College and Trinity
Seminary in Blair, Neb., and pastored churches in Nebraska, Iowa, Michigan and Illinois before the entire
Petersen family moved back to Denmark in 1922. Dagmar received a degree in nursing in 1930, in Viborg,
Denmark. In 1937, Dagmar answered the call of God on her life to be a medical missionary and teacher in
Manchuria. Intending to be there for life, her call was disrupted when all missionaries were forced to leave
China in 1946.
After returning to her family in Denmark for a short time, she was led to Liberia, Africa, where she served as
the first missionary nurse at Ganta Mission under the Methodist mission board. In 1954, she married Joe
Vasby, a widower, and moved to Cambridge to become mother to his five children. In addition to adjusting to
farm life and learning to be a mother, her years in Cambridge were filled with nursing, leading women's Bible
studies and youth Bible camps, personal counseling, worldwide travels, writing, speaking engagements,
ministering to foreign students at the University of Wisconsin, and gardening. She was a lay minister in the
Methodist Church. The Vasby home welcomed missionaries, friends, and family from around the world. She
never lost her deep desire to minister to the poor, sick, and needy of the community and the world. Right up
until her death, she faithfully read newsletters, faithfully prayed for and supported mission work. Perhaps her
greatest legacy was her commitment to prayer. Dagmar's autobiography, Under the Cloud, written with
Charlene Luchterhand, was published in 2001, and chronicles her life from the Nebraska frontier, to
Denmark, China, Africa, and finally to Cambridge.
Dagmar was preceded in death by her husband, Johannes Vasby on May 16, 1993; a daughter in law, Paula
Vasby; and nine brothers and sisters.
She is survived by her five children and their spouses, Marilyn (Chuck) Roum of Verona, Joyce (Don)
Jorgensen of Ripon, Owen (Pat) Vasby of Fort Collins, Colo., Lucille (Tim) Brown of Blair, Neb., and Phil
Vasby of Cambridge; 13 grandchildren, Marcia Roum Brue; Jane Burnett; Joel Jorgensen; Mark Jorgensen;
Kyle Vasby and Karrin Anderson; Lans Brown; Jayme Small, Brett Brown and Brian Brown; Josh Vasby;
Jenna Vasby and Chloe Vasby. She is also survived by 22 great-grandchildren and one great-greatgrandson. Her children were all profoundly touched and are deeply grateful to God for her life.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Jan. 4, 2014, at GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH in Cambridge,
Wis., with the Rev. Dan Dibbert officiating. Friends may call at the church on Saturday, beginning at 9:30 a.m.
until the time of service. Burial will be in Willerup United Methodist Church cemetery. Those planning an
expression of sympathy may wish to consider Grace Lutheran Church.
Dagmar's family would like to thank Willow Pointe Assisted Living in Verona, and Agrace HospiceCare of
Fitchburg, for their wonderful care and concern.