Joe Lauer

Joe Lauer, a.k.a. “Hose,” “Hozer” or “Hozman,” 62, passed away Monday, Oct. 25, 2021, from metastasized esophageal cancer. Friends and family will gather to celebrate a life well lived, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30, at the VFW Post No. 9662, located at 1309 N.E. 66th Avenue in Des Moines.

Joe was born in Creston on July 19, 1959, to Norman and Carolyn (Kepley) Lauer. He graduated from Creston High School in 1978, where he was a star athlete in both baseball and basketball. Joe also enjoyed fishing, hunting, water skiing and climbing.

After high school, Joe enrolled at Southwestern Community College, where he would earn his Associates Degree.

Joe spent the majority of his professional career at Norwest/Wells Fargo Financial, in which he spent 23 years, before retiring at the ripe old age of 53-1/2. Throughout Joe’s adult life, he enjoyed a number of activities, including playing softball, cheering on the Iowa Hawkeyes, boating at the Lake of the Ozarks, riding his Harley motorcycle, hanging out at the Carney Tap, watching old Westerns and spending time with his family and friends. He never met a stranger and loved telling stories and reminiscing. Joe also fell in love with the game of golf, highlighted by a hole-in-one at Woodland Hills Golf Course (hole #2).

Joe is survived by his wife, caregiver and the love of his life, Angie (Rothell) Lauer of Ankeny; son, Matt (Tamara) Lauer; grandchildren: Madison and Paxton of Des Moines, Cory (Shannon) Lauer, Jack and Jameson of Phoenix, Arizona; sister, Candace Kitselman of Emporia, Kansas; brother, James (Ann) Lauer of Morton, Illinois; brother-in-law, Kevin Schroeder of Urbandale; in-laws, Kirk and Cheryl Rothell of Waxahachie, Texas; sisters-in-law, Amy (Nick) Taylor of Waxahachie, Texas, and Brenda (Barry) Debor of Katy, Texas; his adorable Boston Terriers, Darby and Katie (named after his favorite Actor John Wayne); many nieces, nephews, and close friends.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, parents, his brother Tom, and his sister Nancy.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Jan Franko, Dr. Magdy Elsawy, his Cancer Care Navigator, Deana Kerkove, and all of the nurses and staff at Mercy Hospital and Mercy Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to be made in Joe’s memory, to the VFW Post No. 9662 or Easter Seals Camp Sunnyside, both on NE 66th Avenue, Des Moines. Both of these organizations were near and dear to his heart.

Condolences may be expressed at www.hamiltonsfuneralhome.com.

“The Hose knows wherever he goes…”