# 1 - Omaha World Herald, by Sam Womack, World-Herald Staff Writer

BLAIR MOTORCYCLIST, 48, WAS DEVOTED TO FAMILY

A 48-year-old Blair man was on his way home to celebrate his 25-month anniversary with his fiancée.

He never got there.

Bryan E. Lagasse, 48, died Wednesday night after he crashed his Harley-Davidson motorcycle on Highway 36 near 72nd Street.

Lagasse was westbound on Highway 36 about 10:15 p.m. when his brakes suddenly locked, said Chief Deputy Marty Bilek of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.

He lost control of the motorcycle, and the bike slid off the roadway and fell to its side, Bilek said. Lagasse, who was wearing a helmet, was pronounced dead at Creighton University Medical Center.

His fiancée, Kathy Passauer, said Lagasse was an experienced motorcycle rider. She said he was born in Kansas and had lived in Blair for about 16 years.

Lagasse worked as a forklift mechanic and loved to garden.

She said he was devoted to his and her children and grandchildren.

“He was one of a kind -- a lovely, loyal person,” she said. “He was the love of my life.”

A memorial service will be at 3 p.m. Monday at Braman Mortuary, 1702 N. 72nd St. Lagasse will be buried in Concordia, Kan.

# 2 World Herald

LAGASSE, BRYAN E., Dec. 6, 1963 - Sep. 26, 2012

Age 48 of Omaha. He is preceded in death by his father, Verlin E. Lagasse. Survived by his mother and stepfather, Karen and Verne Knoche; fiancée, Kathy Passauer; children, Shelby Swaine, Carly Lagasse, Blake Lagasse; siblings, Eric (Sharon) Lagasse, Lane, KS; Kimberly Lagasse, Cincinnati, OH; nieces and nephews, Madison and Allison, Lane, KS; Ryan, Abby, Amelia Summerskill, Shawnee, KS; Courtney Summerskill, Cincinnati, OH; many other family and friends.

In lieu of flowrs, Memorials may be directed to the family to be used for Bryan’s children’s college fund. FUNERAL SERVICE Monday, October 1st, 3 pm with family receiving friends 1 hour prior all at Braman Mortuary Southwest Chapel. GRAVESIDE SERVICE 10 am Tuesday, October 2nd, at Rice cemetery, Rice, KS.

Visit www.bramanmortuary,com to leave a condolence.

BRAMAN MORTUARY SOUTHWEST CHAPEL, 6505 s. 144 St. 402-895-3400

# 3 - Pilot-Tribune, October 2, 2012

BLAIR MAN DIES IN CRASH NEAR OMAHA

Bryan E. Lagasse, 48, of Blair, died Wednesday night in a motorcycle accident near Omaha.

According to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Lagasse was westbound on his Harley-Davidson on Highway 36 near 72nd St. about 10:15 p.m. when his brakes suddenly locked. He lost control of the motorcycle and it slid off the roadway and fell onto its side. He was wearing a helmet.

He was pronounced dead at Creighton University Medical Center.

Lagasse was a Kansas native who had lived in Blair about 16 years.

A memorial service was Monday at Braman Mortuary in Omaha. His interment will be in Concordia,Kan.