Michael, Shauni & Casi Lauer, died 1991

AMBROSE, LAUER, BLUE, ONEAL

Posted By: M. Durr - IAGenWeb Volunteer
Date: 4/26/2010 at 12:34:19

Michael Lauer 1988-1991; Shauni Lauer 1989-1991; Casi Lauer 1990-1991

Services Held For Three Lauer Children

Funeral services were held for Michael Lauer, 3, Shauni Lauer, 21 months, and Casi Lauer, 9 months, children of Gerald and Tammy Lauer, stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas, formerly of West Union, were held today (Wednesday) at 10:30 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, West Union, with burial at the West Union Cemetery. Burnham-Wood Funeral Home, West Union, was in charge of arrangements.

The three children were killed in a car/bus accident Sept. 14 near Shell Rock.

Michael Shawn was born Aug. 23, 1988 and baptized at Zion Lutheran Aug. 13, 1989. Shauni Larisa was born Dec. 2, 1989. Casi Marie was born Dec. 12, 1990.

Michael had started talking and playing with his Ninja Turtles toys. Shauni followed Michael about. Casie had endured repeated surgeries, but was a happy baby, always smiling.

They were preceded in death by their grandfather, Robert Ambrose; and their great-grandparents, Clarence Lauer, Elmer Blue, John Ambrose and Clayton and Lucille O'Neal.

Survivors include their parents, Gerald and Tammy; their grandparents, Linda Ambrose, and Russell and Shirley Lauer; their great-grandparents, Clara Lauer, Marie Ambrose, and Mildred Blue; and by many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Pall bearers were Troy Mitchell, Todd Mitchell, Rickey Briggs, Keith Loomis, Chris Blue and Johnny Martin. Honorary pallbearers were Jerry Blue and Marlyn Henderson.
_____________________________________________________________________

Father is in Critical Condition

3 DIE IN CAR/BUS COLLISION

Three children are dead and their soldier father hospitalized in critical condition, after their car collided with a school bus Saturday morning near Shell Rock, in Butler County.

Dead at the scene of the 7:30 a.m. crash were Michael Lauer, 3; Shauni Lauer, 21 months; and Casi Lauer, nine months.

Engineering Unit Specialist Gerald Lauer, 23, of West Union, was en route home from Fort Riley, Kan., to visit family members in West Union and Monona during a three-week leave.

Funeral services for the Lauer children were held this morning (Wednesday) at Zion Lutheran Church in West Union, with burial at the West Union Cemetery.

The Lauer vehicle was eastbound on Highway 3 when it veered to the left and across the center line, colliding head-on with a westbound Waverly Shell Rock school bus.

Gerald Lauer was taken by ambulance to Allen Memorial Hospital in Waterloo, where he remains in the intensive care unit. He is the son of Russell and Shirley Lauer of West Union.

Lauer's wife Tammy is also in the Army and was on assignment in Arkansas. She has since joined the family in West Union.

A fund drive for the Lauer family has begun. Contributions may be made at any bank in West Union, or at the Maynard Savings Bank.

The bus was transporting 13 members of the Waverly Shell Rock High School volleyball team and two coaches to a match in Webster City. No one aboard the bus was seriously injured.

Investigators did not know what caused the Lauer vehicle to veer out of its lane. Impact of the crash spun the Lauer car around, a path of debris strewn across the highway.

The bus went into the ditch. Driver Les Banser was praised by school officials for keeping the bus upright, then leading his passengers away from the vehicle, which was leaking fuel.

Postville, Iowa newspaper of the time clipping, hand dated 1991, from my mother's obituary collection. Posted for genealogical purposes, contributor is not related.