Gerber, Lauree Wood

Lauree Wood Gerber, 88, a resident of The Manor at the Meth-Wick Community, Cedar Rapids, died Saturday, July 10, 2010, at The Woodlands. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 14, 2010, at the Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home. The Rev. Brenda L. Peconge of Holy Redeemer Lutheran Church will officiate. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday, before the funeral service.

Survivors include two sons, John (Toby) of Raleigh, N.C., and David (Margaret) of Lakeland, Fla.; two daughters, Barbara Anderson (Joe) of Bloomington, Ind., and Marcia Welsh of Houston, Texas; seven grandchildren, Meredith Cunha (Reuven) of Massachusetts, Jacob Gerber of Taiwan, Christopher Gerber of Florida, Kristen King (John) of Indiana, Jeremy Anderson of Indiana, Jason Welsh (Natalie) of Texas, and Courtney Rees (Michael) of Texas; six great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Jean Karrick (Roger) and JoAnne Levenhagen, both of Cedar Rapids; also nine dear nieces and nephews.

Lauree was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and her sister, Mary Casavant.

Lauree was born July 25, 1921, in Sheldon, Iowa, daughter of Michael and Martha Krahling Wood. She graduated from East High School and Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa, and was a high schoolteacher in George, Hartley, and Sheldon, Iowa, before marrying John M. Gerber on April 27, 1946, and moving to Cedar Rapids. She assisted in the operation of Gerber Plumbing and Heating Company from 1955 to 1987. She participated in school, church and community activities, serving on the church council at First Lutheran, the board of directors for Hawthorne Hills Housing Corporation, the Cedar Rapids Community School Board for 12 years, and the board of the Grant Wood Area Education Agency for five years. John died in December 1998, and Lauree moved to the Meth-Wick Community three years later. She joined Holy Redeemer Lutheran Church in November 2003. She was also a member of Chapter LI, P.E.O., and the United Nations Association.

Lauree enjoyed every opportunity to be with family and friends. Her love for travel, especially in the motor home, was often the means for bringing family members together. Motor home trips to Alaska, Nova Scotia, and the Copper Canyon in Mexico were highlights of their retirement years. After John's death, she often traveled to be with family, and was privileged to enjoy a trip to Germany and the Alpine countries with Barbara and family, as well as a trip to the Netherlands and Germany with Marcia.

Since December 2001, Lauree has appreciated the benefits of life as a part of the Meth-Wick Community.

Her family sends special thanks to the caring staffs of Mercy Hospice and the Meth-Wick Community.

In lieu of flowers, gifts in memory of Lauree may be directed to the John and Lauree Gerber Endowed Scholarship at Kirkwood Community College, to the Meth-Wick Foundation or to Holy Redeemer Lutheran Church.

Please feel free to leave a message, tribute, or memory to Lauree's family on the webpage, www.cedarmemorial.com under Obituaries.