Fern Laufer

Fern Laufer, 102, of State Center, died Sunday, July 11, 2010, at MMSC. Graveside funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 22, 2010, at Sauer Cemetery in Evansville, Illinois. There will be no visitation but there will be a viewing prior to the graveside service. Memorials may be directed to St. Johns United Church of Christ or the charity of the donors choice. For condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com. Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Fern and her family. Phone 641-844-1234. Fern Neal Frazier was born on October 18, 1907, in Sparta, Illinois. She was the daughter of Renwick and Mary (Ervin) Frazier. Fern graduated from Sparta High School in 1925. On November 26, 1927, Fern married Eugene Laufer in Sparta, Illinois. The couple raised one son, Thomas Laufer. Fern lived in Evansville, Illinois, Ankeny, Iowa, Waverly, Iowa, Caledonia, Minnesota, and moved to Melbourne in 2000. She was employed at International Shoe Factory in Evansville for a time and was also a homemaker. Fern was a member of St. John United Church of Christ for over 80 years. She enjoyed quilting with a group from her church and also enjoyed playing in card clubs. Left to mourn her loss is her son, Rev. Thomas (Pat) Laufer of Bellevue, NE; her 3 grandchildren Kathleen (Jim) Hovick of Roland, IA, Dr. Jean Laufer of Roland, IA, and Mary Allman of Papillion, NE; her 5 great-grandchildren Joshua Allman, Nicholas Allman, John Allman, Zachary Hovick, and Tyler Hovick; and several nieces and nephews. She will rejoin in eternal life her parents, her husband Eugene, her brother Harold Frazier, and her sister Ethel Kelly.