Rema Kathern Lauer

Death Notice - Rema Lauer

Rema Lauer, age 84, of Lusk passed away at her home on Monday. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Friday at the First Baptist Church in Lusk with Pastor Tom Strock officiating. A full obituary will be printed next week. Pier Funeral Home in Lusk is in charge of the funeral arrangements.

The Lusk Herald
October 3, 2007
Rema K. Lauer

Rema Kathern Lauer died at age 85 on Sept. 24, at her home near her garden at Lusk. Funeral services were held in Lusk on Sept. 28, at the First Baptist Church and were officiated by Pastor Tom Strock. Pallbearers were Rema's grandchildren, Michael Larson, Shannon Lauer, Kara Roberts, Jodi DeBerard, Lauri Kelly and Aaron Goodwin. Honorary pallbearers were Dale Schmidt, Russ Crowley, Paul Kruse, Nancy Fitzwater, Denis Peterson, Bobby Davies and Peggy Fitzwater.

Rema was youngest of three children who were born to Loren and Lizzie (Milligan) White on Nov. 29, 1921, at the family's home in Custer County on the Cliff Table west of Merna, Neb. Rema grew up on the family's farm with her parents and older sister, Louise and brother, Floyd. She attended rural grade school followed by high school at Merna, having graduated in 1939. Rema first met her life-long husband, Arthur "Archie" Lauer, now deceased, who had begun working on the farm for Rema's parents. Rema and Archie were married on Jan. 14, 1945, at Paso Robles, Calif., while Archie was serving in the U.S. Army during World War II. After Archie was honorably discharged from military service, the couple moved to Lusk where Archie began working at the Kilmer Creamery for his brother-in-law, Roscoe Kilmer. Later Archie worked for twenty-five years as the supervisor for the Niobrara County Weed and Pest District, having worked closely with the State Agriculture Department and other State-wide offices. After Archie passed away, Rema was proud to know that the State Weed and Pest Council began a premier annual Archie Lauer award for a distinguished district board member.

Rema was a superb homemaker who along with Archie were dedicated and loving parents to their two children, Diana and Warren. Rema was known by the neighbor kids for her warm welcome to home baked cookies and candies. She thoroughly loved her garden and flowers. Her garden though, on few occassions became a temptation to late night unknown garden raiders. Earlier in her life, Rema taught and played piano for children's Sunday School classes at the First Baptist Church and was active in the Church Circle groups. Rema's full-time duties as the family's homemaker, which in addition to keeping house and providing the great home cooked meals, included being the family seamstress for most all the clothing needs, keeping a garden and canning the vegetables and fruits. She taught Diana to sew and made sure that both children received piano lessons from Helen Bardo and that the kids practiced their piano lessons.

Rema also worked part-time on occasion to supplement their income while Diana and Warren were growing up. She had worked as a lunchroom attendant and server at the grade school and as a sales clerk at the Midwest Hardware Store as an assistant store manager for the Lusk Jewelry Store.

Rema had the greatest softness that was her passion and love for little children. Rema had the blessing of having enjoyed the passages of life of tots to adults with her children, nephews, nieces and later her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Rema was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a nephew, Wayne Schmidt; a grandson, Dustin Lauer and a brother, Floyd White. She is survived by her two children, Diana Jean Larson and husband Larry at Gillette and Warren Arthur Lauer and his wife Judy at Laramie. Also surviving are Rema's six grandchildren and step-grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren and step-grandchildren. She is also survived by her Louise Schmidt and numerous nephews, nieces and cousins in Wyoming, Nebraska, Colorado, California and Nevada.

The family will bring Archie home from Greenhill Cemetery in Laramie at a later date and private gathering to be with Rema at their final resting place.

All arrangements were conducted through Pier Funeral Home at Lusk. The family advises any memorials received will be applied for a special improvement in Niobrara County to be determined.

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