John Lauer

Born in big-sky Saskatchewan, John Lauer peacefully passed away on April 11, 2021 (Divine Mercy Sunday) at the age of 85 in his home community of Evansburg.

John may be remembered as the man who climbed the water tower every year to put up the Christmas star.  He may be remembered for his decades of service to the Evansburg Fire Department; for his voice and strumming in the church choir; or as a care-free paddler in his yellow canoe.  He may be remembered as the playful school bus driver of the Rochfort Bridge route #33, or the young man who hitchhiked across Canada because he wanted to see the Atlantic Ocean.  He may be remembered as the entrepreneur behind Evansburg Breeder Service – the guy with a silhouette of a bull on the roof of his car, and also on his house!  He may be remembered as the husband of Liz Maruska and father of five daughters (he used to say he went deaf in self defense).  And most certainly, he may be remembered as the mischievous mastermind of the infamous Evansburg Grouch.  He was so very proud of this.

The grouch, a coal miner, is a great metaphor for John because coal is a diamond in the rough.  And as a humble man, there was nothing flashy about John.  If the four C’s of diamonds are Cut, Colour, Clarity and Carat, then perhaps the four C’s of John might be Curiosity, Creativity, Community and Character.  John was indeed a character.  

And although ‘F’ words are typically not well received, John’s ‘F’ words would be abundantly positive:  Faith and Family.  He was devoted to both.

John’s living legacies include his wife Elizabeth; children Tammy (Darrell), Michele (Stan), Theresa (George), Jackie (Ivan) and Joanne (Allen); his individually remarkable grandchildren Brad, Christine, Jennifer, Grace, Michael, Carson and Sarah, and his loving siblings Bernie, Joe and Garry.

John is pre-deceased by his parents John and Anne (she called him ‘Chonny’); and his siblings Max, Rose and Margaret.

The family thanks all the staff at the Evansburg Good Samaritan Village for their kindness, their attentiveness, and their professionalism.  And especially poignant in these times ... we thank them for their service.

Should you so choose, John’s wishes are for donations to be directed to benefit those in need and in particular he mentions the hungry, the sick, the homeless, and the threatened unborn.

For a life fully lived, by a man profoundly loved, and a death gently entered into ... peace be with you John.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of John Lauer, please visit our floral store.