Alison Lasell Obituary

Lasell, Alison Van Vooren
9/17/1965 - 11/10/2023

Alison Van Vooren Lasell – beloved and loving mom, wife, daughter, sister, aunt, niece, and friend – passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family on Friday, November 10, 2023.

Ali was born to Barbara F. and Robert A. Van Vooren on September 17, 1965, in Davenport, Iowa. She graduated from Iowa State University with a B.S. degree in education and moved to Denver, Colorado to pursue her passions for public education and living the good life in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. She received a masters degree in curriculum and instruction from University of Colorado Boulder and a type d: principal's license from the University of Denver. In Denver, she met the love of her life, John, playing on a co-ed ultimate frisbee team and they wed in 2004, going on to have two sons, Peter and Charlie.

Ali's public education career spanned 26 years – teaching 7th and 8th grade science and math at Adams 12 Five Star Schools. She loved it – and strived to inspire, motivate, and help each student understand that they have great potential as a student and as a person. As a humble and life-long learner, Ali reflected on her first teaching job, "These kids taught me everything I know about teaching, and I owe any professional success to them!" In 2015 she was elected to the Jefferson County School Board as part of the recall election and served for one term. She also served as 1st Vice President for JeffCo Prosperity Partners for 4 years. Ali was recently recognized by the Jefferson County School Board with the "Our Communities: Our Legacy - Lifetime of Service to Public Education". She graciously accepted this award, acknowledging her slate and team of colleagues and supporters as a big part of this recognition.

Ali was a generous and entertaining host to family and friends, whom she deeply cherished. Ali was one-of-a-kind and everyone who knew her considered themselves very lucky and loved. She was the center of her family's life – and her sense of humor, laughter, kindness, and zest for life were infectious. As her two boys grew up, she was a dedicated chauffeur, cheerleader at their sporting events, teacher of life lessons, and problem solver of life challenges. The family enjoyed skiing, camping, hiking, sporting events, live music, tending to their bee hives and dahlias, traveling, cooking, card games, and family reunions.

In 2018, Ali was diagnosed with HER-2 positive breast cancer, which metastasized to her brain in late 2020, in the form of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis. Propelled by her positive nature, wonderful physicians, and the loving support of "Team Ali"; she beat incredible odds and gained three more meaningful years of life. She continued to have fun watching the boys grow, learning to fly fish together, walking the ditch trail and later the mall, listening to her music, and enjoying time with family and friends.

Ali is survived by her loving husband of 19 years John, her two devoted sons Peter and Charlie, adoring father Bob Van Vooren, sisters Chris Van Vooren (Bob), Guff Van Vooren (Vicki), Sara Borger (Alan), Steph Herold (Doug), and Mardy Sackley (Chuck), brother Scott Van Vooren (Ellen), and many nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews. Ali was preceded in death by her mother Barb Van Vooren and nephew Thomas Scott Van Vooren.

A celebration of Ali's beautiful life is being planned for January 2024. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Ali's honor may be sent to JeffCo Prosperity Partners at www.coloradogives.org/donate/Jeffco-Prosperity-Partners.

Online remembrances and condolences may be expressed by visiting Ali's obituary at Kramer Funeral Home (https://www.kramerfunerals.com) and her Caring Bridge page (www.caringbridge.org/visit/alivanvoorenlasell).