Wendell W. Lauber

Notes:

Obituary, copled from FindAGrave:

Long-time agriculturalist and seedsman Wendell W. Lauber, of Lincoln, formerly of Geneva, passed away on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, 2020 in Lincoln at the age of 88.

Wendell Weldon Lauber was born in Fairmont, Nebraska on July 21, 1931, the youngest child of Herbert E. and Elva L. (Fogel) Lauber. As a young boy, Wendell moved with his family to York and attended grade school where his father Herbert started a seed business, the Lauber Seed Company. His seed warehouse at the time was located where Chances R Restaurant's Sunday buffets are served today.

Herbert sold his York business in 1947 to Hollis Miller of York and Wendell and his family moved back to Geneva where he attended Geneva Public Schools, graduating with the class of 1949.

In his youth, Wendell spent many hours doing chores and working with his father and brother. In addition to farming, he also helped Herb after school and on weekends run the Buick Car Dealership in downtown Geneva, the Lauber Motor Company, for a period of time.

He furthered his education by attending the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, graduating with a bachelor's degree in business in 1953. During his college years, "Wendy" as he was affectionately known by his college buddies, was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity and was student manager for the men's basketball and wrestling teams.

Wendell's father Herbert had raised the first hybrid seed corn in Fillmore County in 1938, establishing Lauber Blue Valley Hybrids. Wendell later joined him and expanded the operation by selling corn, wheat and sorghum seed throughout Nebraska and Kansas. Wendell partnered to bring the first seed soybeans and seed grain sorghum to the state of Nebraska, as well as drilling some of the earliest irrigation wells in Fillmore County. In 1958, Claiton and Wendell joined other Nebraska seed growers to form NC+, a Hybrid Seed Company, where he served as president and board member for many years. NC+ went on to grow in assets over 48 million before being sold in 2005.

On March 22, 1953, he was united in marriage to Norma R. Kuiken and to this union four sons, Jerry, Bradley, Bryan and William were born.

During the 1960's and 70's, Wendell helped manage a growing seed operation. As one may know, one of the many challenges of growing pure lines of hybrid seed corn requires supervising the detasseling and roguing crews every summer. At one point, he managed over 325 area detasslers as well as high school teacher "straw bosses" and supervised the transportation of the crews to/from the field in grain trucks and later buses.

As removing tassels became more mechanized, Wendell, his sons and employees engineered, modified or refined detasseling machines designed for tassel removal as well as machines that carried the detasslers and roguers through the field, eliminating the need to walk through the mud, the tall corn and reducing heat exhaustion. Although the method of the machines carrying detassler's through the field has somewhat been discontinued, Wendell's eye for innovation, new technology and communication advances he incorporated into the farms enterprise caught the attention of the seed industry.

Besides his history in the seed business, Wendell was also instrumental in forming the Natural Resource Districts in the state and later was appointed by Governor Tiemann to serve on its commission for a year. He was a part-owner with the Geneva Grain Company and served the state and national associations in the seed industry in various ways. Wendell played active roles and received distinguished awards in the Nebraska Crop Improvement Association, where he served as president in 1988, along with participating with the Nebraska Seed Trade Association, Western Seed Association and the American Seed Trade Association, among others.

Locally, Wendell spearheaded the forming of the Geneva Lions Club and supervised the construction of the new Lions Building at the city park and participated in the improvements of the Hidden Hills Country Club.

He was a member of the Masonic Lodge #79 and was a 60-year member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. Wendell was blessed with a second marriage to Louise (Klima) Barnard on June 4, 1976 in Lincoln. He gained two stepsons, Paul and Chris, and greatly enjoyed doing what he could by being a second father to them.

Wendell's passion for aviation began at an early age, first training in a piper cub and later owning a single engine Piper Comanche. He later sold it and moved up to a twin-engine turbo Piper Comanche. Wendell also experienced flying a glider in Sun Valley, ID and loved inspecting his fields by flying low and slow on calm summer nights with his ultralight Mitchell Wing aircraft in the early 1980's. He continued to fly for business and pleasure purposes up until his late seventies, when his health forced him to give up flying.

Our Dad loved spending time around the water and showed immense patience and fortitude and ultimately pride in witnessing his four boys learn to water ski at an early age at the Lake of The Ozarks in central Missouri. He and his friends built a powered "woody" boat when he was in his early twenties and over the years his family has treasured many boating trips on rivers and lakes. His love to be near the water continued throughout his life and was evident during his retirement- as he and Louise lived at Lake Ozark, Missouri in the summer and on Breezy Point at Marco Island, FL during the winter.

Wendell and Louise moved to the Grand Lodge of The Preserve in Lincoln in 2014. He loved his time spent on warm sunny days with Louise sitting on their outdoor deck he called his "treehouse". Recently, Wendell's health began to decline with dementia and other serious issues, but throughout, he never wavered, always grateful and would greet you with his warm smile and kindness.

Survivors include his wife, Louise; sons and daughters-in-law, Jerry and Sharon Lauber, Brad Lauber; Bryan Lauber and William and Christine Lauber; step sons, Paul and Linda Barnard, Chris Barnard and companion, Sally Petr; nine grandchildren and four step-grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great granddaughter, nieces a nephew, and a host of other relatives and friends.

Wendell was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Claiton Lauber and a great-granddaughter, Karoline Lauber.

Funeral services are 11:00 a.m. Friday, May 29, 2020 at the 1st Congregational United Church of Christ, Geneva, with Pastor Stuart Davis officiating. A Visitation is two hours prior to the service on Friday at the church. A private family gathering will be held the night before at Lauber Funeral Home in Milford. Burial will be in the Geneva Public Cemetery. Memorials have been established to the Geneva Congregational Church or towards Alzheimer's Research @curealz.org. Pallbearers are: Bradley Jr, Dana, Philip, Michael and Paden Lauber, Joe and Jon Barnard. Honorary Pallbearers are Dohn Theobald, Jerry Morris, Larry Eichelberger and Gene Hedden.

The Nebraska Signal June 3, 2020 page 10A

Wendell married Norma R. Kuiken on 22 Mar 1953. Norma was born on 23 Apr 1932 in Downs, Osborne, Kansas; died on 18 Aug 2008 in Geneva, Fillmore County, Nebraska; was buried in Geneva Cemetery, Geneva, Fillmore, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Wendell married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Revered funeral director, father, brother, and grandfather William (Bill) J. Lauber, of Milford, passed away on March 17, 2022, north of Pond Creek, Oklahoma at the age of 59.

Bill was born in Geneva, NE on December 19, 1962, the youngest child of Wendell W. Lauber and Norma R. (Kuiken) Lauber. Bill was a 1981 graduate of Geneva High School, attended Kearney State College, and graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor's degree in Mortuary Science. During his college years he was also a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity. In January 1992, Bill purchased the Moore's Funeral Homes of Friend, Milford, and Beaver Crossing where he spent many years conducting funerals for various families and communities.

Bill's career legacy was laced with achievement. In 2002-2003 he represented the State of Nebraska serving as the President of the Nebraska Funeral Director's Association and also served as a Policy Board Member for the National Funeral Director's Association. Bill later went on to serve a five year term on the Board of Examiners, Funeral Directors and Embalmers, and the Nebraska State Department of Health. Up until his passing he was the chairman of the Legislative Committee for the NeFDA and was instrumental in various legislative bill passages. In 2018 he opened Blue Valley Crematory as an addition to Lauber Funeral Homes to serve the communities increasing needs for crematory services.

Bill was also a part of various community organizations including being a member of the Milford United Methodist Church, Milford Chamber of Commerce, Milford Kiwanis Club, Milford and Friend Masonic Lodges, Shrine, Scottish Rite and Order of the Eastern Star.

In addition to his lengthy career, Bill was known for his family values and larger than life personality. Bill was married to his high school sweetheart, Christine M. Merritt, on June 28th, 1986 in Norfolk, Nebraska. From this union came four children: Whitney, Michael, Madison, and Regan Lauber. Bill enjoyed the outdoors and lived life to the fullest, participating in many activities to include boating, flying, golfing and scuba diving. He particularly loved boating and created a family tradition of spending a week at the Lake of the Ozarks annually. Bill also had a passion for flying after obtaining his pilot's license and spent the past several years traveling the country with his beloved wife and family flying his father's Twin Engine Comanche plane. Bill will be remembered for his vivacious spirit, animated jokes and stories, and devotion to his Christian faith. He was an avid Husker football fan, sports connoisseur, and had a taste for eclectic music that ranged from punk to the classics.

Survivors include daughter and son in law, Whitney and Colton Chrisman of Lincoln, NE, son Michael Lauber and girlfriend Kaylee Chrisman of Lincoln, NE, and daughter Madison Lauber and boyfriend Caden Foster, of Austin TX, brother Jerry and sister-in-law Sharon Lauber of Geneva, NE, twin brothers Brad and Bryan Lauber of Geneva, step mother Louise Lauber of Lincoln, step brothers Chris and Sally Barnard of Lincoln, Paul and Linda Barnard of Aliso Viejo, CA, grandchildren Carver and Kyla Chrisman of Lincoln, NE, father and mother-in-law James and Elenore Merritt of Norfolk, NE, brother and sisters-in-law Steve and Kathie Merritt of Kearney, NE, David and Heidi Merritt, Brent and Cary Meyer, Patrick and Mary Hammond all of Norfolk, NE, Aunt Helen Witmer, cousin Eric and Susan Witmer all of Philipsburg, KS along with several nephews, nieces, cousins and relatives.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Wendell and Norma Lauber, and uncle Claiton Lauber.

(Courtesy of Dennis Belohlavy)
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William married Christine Marie Merritt on 28 Jun 1986 in Norfolk, Madison County, Nebraska. Christine was born on 14 May 1963 in Fremont, Dodge County, Nebraska; died on 17 Mar 2022 in Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Cherished sister, daughter, aunt and friend Regan Victoria Lauber, of Milford, Nebraska, passed away on March 17, 2022, north of Pond Creek, Oklahoma, at the age of 21.
Regan was born in Lincoln, NE, on August 17, 2000, as the youngest child of William (Bill) and Christine (Christy) Lauber. Regan was a Milford High School graduate of 2018 and was in her senior year of college at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, set to graduate in May 2022 with her Bachelor of Arts in English. Regan aspired to continue her education and wanted to move to Austin, Texas, to be with her sister, Madison, while attending graduate school. Regan was an exceptional reader and writer and particularly liked reading fiction, young adult, and gothic novels. She also wrote a book with her dear friend Kyhana that they were planning to publish. During Regan's high school career she was heavily involved in dance, being a member of the Milford High School dance team along with participating in Milford's Elements Dance Concept where she competed in dance doing ballet, point, jazz, pom, production and hip hop. Regan also helped teach dance as an instructor and was loved by her students. In addition to performing on stage as a dancer, Regan was part of the Milford Speech team where she excelled in acting and was known to be able to impersonate anyone.

Regan was the youngest sibling of the Lauber family, with older siblings Whitney, Michael and Madison. She will be remembered for her artistic qualities, her uncanny humor, her admiration for One Direction boy band, love for music and making playlists for her friends and family, her tendency to stay up playing SIMS computer game relentlessly, her beauty and being a renowned make up artist. Anyone who met Regan was inspired by her tenacity for life and genuine kindness.

Regan is survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Whitney and Colton Chrisman of Lincoln, NE, nieces Carver and Kyla Chrisman of Lincoln, NE sister Madison Lauber and boyfriend Caden Foster of Austin, TX, brother Michael Lauber and girlfriend Kaylee Chrisman of Lincoln, NE, grandparents James and Elenore Merritt of Norfolk, NE, uncle and aunt Steve and Kathie of Kearney, NE, aunts and uncles Cary and Brent Meyer, Mary and Patrick Hammond, Heidi and David all of Norfolk, NE, uncle and aunt Jerry and Sharon, uncles Bryan and Brad Lauber all of Geneva, NE, cousins Mackenzie and Ryan Swogger of Omaha, NE, Tessa and Emerson Meyer, Benjamin and Max Hammond, Maggie and Kate Merritt all of Norfolk, NE, cousins Bradley Jr and Stacy Lauber, Dana and Whitney Lauber, Phil Lauber all of Geneva, NE along with second cousins Macye and Kyle Witmer and Malorie Greene, among other relatives.

Regan is preceded in death by her parents, Bill and Christy Lauber, grandparents Wendell and Norma Lauber, cousin Karoline Lauber, and great-grandparents, and dear friend, Trevyn Roth.
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