Dean Lauer

Dean Luverne Lauer, 89, of Winterset, passed away peacefully after a battle with Parkinson's disease on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Adel Acres in Adel, Iowa.

Dean was born December 10, 1936, at home in Zion, Iowa, in Adair County, to Harvey and Lorna (Gilbert) Lauer. He grew up in Adair County and graduated from Zion High School in 1954. On September 6, 1958, in Gentry, Missouri, he was united in marriage to Loretta Jensen, beginning a partnership that would span 67 years.

Dean was born and raised in Adair County, then lived in Dallas County, and moved to Winterset in 1963, and has lived here ever since.

He proudly served in the Army from 1954-1957, spending most of his military career in Germany, which he loved.

Never one to sit still and always ready for the next challenge, Dean worked at the Hemphill Hatchery in 1958 and 1959 and the Booneville Co-op from 1959-1963. In 1964, when he became self-employed, he and his wife Loretta worked side-by-side from then on. During the 1970s–1980s Dean and his brother Dennis “Chip” owned and operated Lauer Brothers Implement/Lauer Brothers Motors/Madison County Motors, a local Massey Ferguson Dealership, along with a Dodge/Chrysler/Plymouth Dealership, and various other farm-related equipment sales. This was followed by farm and consignment auctions for the past 40 years.

Dean dedicated many years of service to his community. He served as a Madison County Supervisor for eight years and was a proud member of the Masonic Lodge and the Shriners for over fifty years.

Dean’s many likes included: dancing with Loretta to old Country Western music, his kids, grandkids and great grandkids, the shop, auctions, driving the forklift around, cutting wood, anything at all to do outside, blackjack tournaments, raising and showing draft horses, visiting about anything under the sun and telling old stories to family and friends around the old wood stove.

Above all, Dean treasured his family. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Loretta; daughter, Denise; sons, Dwight (Angie) and Dan (Rhonda); brothers, Duane (Wanda) Lauer and Dennis “Chip” (Betty) Lauer; sister, Carolyn Dillenburg; brothers-in-law, Denny (Sue) Jensen, Darrell (Peg) Jensen, Doyle (Carla) Jensen, and John (Cindy) Jensen. He also is survived by six grandchildren, Kyle (Dawn) Lauer, Amanda (Chad) Green, Melisha (Shayna) Lauer, CW (Brooke) Gordon, Mekenna Lauer, and JD (Maddie) Gordon; twelve great-grandchildren: Natalie, Calin, Evan, Layni, Chett, Saylor, Benny, Tommy, Clay, Ruby, Bryar, and Connor.

Dean was preceded in death by his parents, Harvey and Lorna Lauer; father-in-law, John Jensen; mother-in-law, Margie Jensen; brothers, Marvin Lauer and Deloyte (Esther) Lauer; and brother-in-law Dale Dillenburg.

Family, friends, employees, and colleagues (those that knew him well), knew there was always the “right” way, the “wrong” way and the “Dean Lauer” way.

A Visitation will be held at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home, Winterset Chapel on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, from 5-7 p.m., and the Funeral Service will be on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at 10:30 a.m., also at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home, Winterset Chapel. The burial with military honors will follow at the Hill of Zion Cemetery in Adair County.

Memorials may be made to the Hill of Zion Cemetery and/or the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

The family would like to thank Cody and the staff at Adel Acres for the care and compassion shown to Dean and the family during his time there.

Online condolences can be expressed to the family at www.caldwellparrish.com.