Frederick Charles Lauer Jr. Obituary (2015)

FREDERICK CHARLES LAUER, JR Born April 18, 1925 at Millard Fillmore Hospital in Buffalo, NY. Oldest son of Frederick Charles and Helen Marion (Lewis) Lauer. He grew up mainly in Rochester and Webster, NY. He attended Mercersberg Academy, Rennselaer Polytechnic Institute, and later graduated from Rochester University. Unable to serve during World War II due health reasons, he traveled to Nicaragua with his parents and younger brother, Walter ("Bill"), in the 1940s and worked in the mining camp where his father was auditor. Returning to the States after the war, he worked in the Rochester area and finished college. In the 1960s, after working in Rochester for several years, he moved west to Shelley, Idaho to work for French's and then on to Prosser, Washington where he worked for Tree Top and Seneca Foods. Along the way he did contract work for the Federal government, setting up emergency housing at disaster sites around the country. Reclusive by nature, among friends he had a fine sense of humor and told a good story. His niece and nephews always enjoyed his tales of growing up with their father, especially the one where the two accidently burned down their house playing cowboys and Indians in the front parlor - one can't play cowboys and Indians without a camp fire, can one? Having grown up in Rochester, home of the Kodak camera, he enjoyed photography, often traveling to air shows to photograph the vintage aircraft. He was also an avid reader and rarely found a book he didn't want to read; even more rarely did he part with one. He was actively involved with efforts to reclaim the West Prosser Cemetary. Predeceased by his parents and younger brother, Walter "Bill". Survived by a niece, Judy A. Lauer (NY), and nephews, Walter W. Lauer, Jr., Theodore C. Lauer (NY), and Mark S. Lauer (CO), four great nieces and nephews, and ten great-great nieces and nephews. He will be missed by many, especially his good friends, Bev Stone and her family, Win Taylor and Max Benitz. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the West Prosser Cemetery c/o the Prosser Cemetery Association (P.O. Box 1439/Prosser, WA 99350) or Prosser Friends of the Library or a charity of your choice.