Heidi Lauer

Heidi Lauer

Heidi Lauer, 79, died peacefully surrounded by loved ones at her Merrillan, WI home Monday, March 16, 2026.

She was born July 28, 1946, in Winona, MN, to Wilfred (“Bill”) and Mary (Neverman) Lauer — the second of their four surviving children. Heidi was active in many groups during her school days, including Girl Scouts, MYF (Methodist Youth Fellowship) and Job’s Daughters. She played clarinet in the band and was inducted into the National Honor Society as a senior. She graduated from Winona High School in 1964 and enrolled at the University of Minnesota. She would leave the U. of M. to care for her first-born, putting her degree on hold. 

In 1970, Heidi married David Bremer and relocated to his hometown of Tripoli, IA, where they raised their four  children. They were later divorced.

In 1986, while still raising three girls, she returned to college to earn a B.A. in graphic design from the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. She used her artistic talents and creativity in many ways throughout her life, including quilting, illustrating children’s books, editing and publishing local history books (including her dad’s book of memoirs, “A Passing Parade”), and painting (watercolor was her medium of choice). She never failed to find beauty in nature, architecture and even in what others might only see as mundane.

Heidi relocated to Merrillan, WI, in 1995 to help care for her aging parents and remained in the community even after their passing. Her kind heart led her to many opportunities of both service and sacrifice throughout her life, fueled by her compassion for others and her desire to help in any way she could.

While her life was filled with trials and tribulations, she never lost sight of all she had to be grateful for, never gave up hope that things could and would get better, and she never wavered in her faith in her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and His precious promises of goodness and mercy. 

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” — 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

Heidi is survived by her four children, D. Scott Bremer of Merrillan (who selflessly cared for her for the past 16 years), Sarah (Troy) Eastman of Cedar Falls, IA, Beth Bremer of Allison, IA, and Carolyn Bremer of Denver, CO; as well as six grandchildren, (Stephanie, Cody, Shaylie, Amelia, Evelyn and Bennett); two great-grandchildren (Cooper and Nora); and her siblings, Ted (Carol) Lauer of Tomah, WI, Germaine Lauer of Colorado Springs, CO, and Cassandra Lauer of Spokane, WA. 

She was preceded in death by an infant sister (Karen Lauer), her parents, and her partner of 25 years, Bob Green.

A memorial is planned for Saturday, April 11, at 1 p.m. at the Countryside Evangelical Free Church in Merrillan (301 Green St).