Helen Lauer

HELEN ROGERS LAUER

Mount Pleasant

Helen Rogers Lauer, 94, of rural Mount Pleasant, passed away Sunday, July 18, 2021, at Park Place Elder Living in Mount Pleasant following a short illness.

Helen was the daughter of Aitken Baxter and Lillie Sarah (Rogers) Martin. She was born Dec. 27, 1926, at the Mount Pleasant Hospital. Helen began her academic career at Bethel Country School before going to New London. After graduating from New London High School in 1944, Helen began working at the New London Telephone Co.

On June 5, 1949, Helen married the love of her life, Roland D. Lauer, at Beulah Methodist Church. Thus began her full rich life as a farm wife in the Pleasant Lawn community. She was always willing to help and spent many hours creating tasty meals to "keep everyone going" with many ingredients from her productive garden.

In her early years, she was a member of Farm Bureau Women and the Swedesburg Sewing Club. Helen also actively supported the Champion Clippers and Lucky Lassies 4-H Clubs. In 2018, she and Roland were inducted into the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame for their outstanding service and dedication to 4-H in Henry County.

Helen was a life long member of the Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church, where she held many church offices and was an active member of United Methodist Women. Her faith, family and many friends were the passion of her life.

Helen is survived by her daughter, Donna (William) Stradt; grandchildren, Martin (Kristen) Stradt, Adam (Anne Yount) Stradt, Ryan (Sarah) Lauer and Renee (Todd) Smith; and great-grandchildren, Dalton Smith, Tessa Smith, Hayden Stradt, Talan Stradt, Elizabeth Yount, Jackson Lauer, Benson Lauer, Lillian Lauer and Elliott Stradt. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a son, Roger; and a brother, Perry.

Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, July 26, at Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel in Mount Pleasant. Pastor Jeff McPheron will officiate. Burial will be in Forest Home Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until service time Monday. A memorial fund has been established for the Wesley Chapel Church and Henry County Extension 4-H (to assist with membership fees). Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel is caring for Helen and her family. www.powellfuneralhomes.com.