MASON CITY — Phyllis Carol Lau, 92, of Mason City, Iowa, passed away Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at the I.O.O.F. Home in Mason City, leaving behind an extraordinary extended family spanning five generations, a lifetime of cherished memories and a deep connection to the Northern Iowa communities she called home.
A funeral service will be held Saturday, October 24, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Rolling Acres Christian Reformed Church, 341 19th Street SW, Mason City, with the Rev. Brian Lund officiating. A luncheon will follow the service, with burial afterward at Evergreen Cemetery in Britt.
Visitation will be held Friday, October 23, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 North Pennsylvania Avenue, Mason City. Visitation will also continue one hour before the funeral service at the church. Memorial contributions may be directed to the family.
Phyllis Carol Harrington was born February 26, 1934, in Mason City, the daughter of Paul and Loudel (Cheney) Harrington. She grew up in the community and attended Mason City schools, later earning her GED in 1980, an accomplishment that reflected her determination to continue her education as an adult.
On March 9, 1952, Phyllis married Benard “Art” Asche at First United Methodist Church in Mason City. The couple established their home in Garner, where they began raising their family.
In 1967, the family relocated to Farmington, Minnesota, and later to Willmar, Minnesota. Their years together were cut short when Art passed away unexpectedly in 1974.
Phyllis returned to Garner in 1976, reconnecting with the North Iowa community that had been such an important part of her life.
On September 16, 1978, she married Paul Lau at Zion Evangelical and Reformed Church. Their marriage brought together an even larger family, adding new relationships and generations of memories.
Paul passed away in December 2007. Phyllis continued living in Garner until 2010, when she moved back to her hometown of Mason City.
Throughout her life, Phyllis found happiness in the simple pleasures of family, friendship and home.
She enjoyed collecting dolls, tending her garden and gathering around the table for games of cards, bingo and dominoes.
Her kitchen was another place where she shared her affection for others. Phyllis loved cooking and baking for her family, creating meals and treats that became part of the traditions and memories her loved ones would carry forward.
Family remained one of the great joys of her life. With children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren, Phyllis had the opportunity to witness her family grow across five generations.
Her faith and community involvement were also important to her. She was a member of Rolling Acres Christian Reformed Church in Mason City and the Garner Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary.
Phyllis is survived by her children, Greg Asche and his wife, Karen, of Andover, Minnesota; Peggy Matous of Mason City; Carol Hayunga and her husband, Byron, of Montevideo, Minnesota; and Dawn Hensley and her husband, Stephen, of Mason City.
She also leaves behind 18 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
Her surviving stepchildren include Graydon Lau and his wife, Sally; Janelle Renner and her husband, Tom; Dennis Lau and his wife, Michelle; and Mark Lau, along with her stepson-in-law, Dave Scott.
Her extended family also includes 31 step-grandchildren, many step-great-grandchildren and several step-great-great-grandchildren.
Phyllis is further survived by her sisters, Shirley Portis and Deb Schmidt and her husband, Roger; her sister-in-law, Marilyn Harrington; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Loudel Harrington; her husbands, Art Asche and Paul Lau; her stepdaughter, Marian Scott; her grandson, Michael Hayunga; her brothers, Bill and Larry Harrington; and her sister-in-law, Gale Harrington.
Family members and friends may share condolences and memories through the online remembrance for Phyllis C. Lau at Cataldo Funeral Home.
From her early years in Mason City to the decades she spent in Garner and Minnesota, Phyllis built a life centered on family, faith and the everyday joys of being together.
Her legacy lives on through the many generations of loved ones who will remember her welcoming presence, her meals prepared with care, her fondness for games and gardening, and the family traditions she helped create.
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