Timothy J. Lauer remembered

COCHRANTON — Cochranton was eerily silent Tuesday. Many in the town of a little more than 1,000 were still learning of or coming to grips with the news that 25-year-old U.S. Army Spc. Timothy J. Lauer was killed in Iraq.

The 2000 Cochranton Junior-Senior High School graduate was one of three soldiers who died on Oct. 14 after an improvised explosive device was detonated near his vehicle in Baghdad, Iraq. First Sgt. Charles M. King, 48, of Mobile, Ala., and Staff Sgt. Joseph M. Kane, 35, of Darby were also killed in the IED blast.

Lauer, who lived at 606 1/2 State St., Meadville, had been in Iraq for almost a year and was scheduled to return home in November.

Bernie Niebauer, one of Lauer’s former teachers at Cochranton, was overcome with “shock” and “sadness” Tuesday morning upon learning the news.

He last saw Lauer in the spring when Tim was on leave from Iraq to attend his brother Chris’ high school graduation from Cochranton.

“Very confident young man,” said Niebauer, who recalled thanking him at that time for his service. “I was comfortable with the fact he was over there. He wanted to be there and I knew he would do a good job.”

He said Lauer was hardly a focused student when he was younger, but he grew into a mature man. Lauer gained focus, said Niebauer, when he got involved in the Crawford County Area Vocational-Technical School welding program. He excelled in his senior project — building a platform underneath his pickup truck to carry things like a deer carcass or firewood.

“What a change from when he started eight years ago. He became a real nice young man,” said Niebauer. “What a different person, what a contributing member he would have been to the community, the whole area. He was a guy you wouldn’t mind to have as a neighbor.”

Lauer’s welding teacher, Bill Powell, said Tim was an outstanding welder.

“I remember Tim as being a good student, one who took on leadership roles,” said Powell, who mentioned Lauer held an officer position with Vocational Industrial Clubs of America. “He was always willing to help others.”

That willingness to help others is part of the reason it seemed like everybody liked Lauer.

“Kids liked him, teachers liked him, he was just a likable kid,” said his school counselor, Eric McGuirk. “He was serving his country so you really can’t be anymore proud than that.”

From the Meadville Tribune

Family tells of fallen soldier's commitment to country

“We’ll all be holding each other up,” Valerie Lauer called out to friends Thursday outside the Pennsylvania National Guard Armory in Meadville. “That’s what we’ve been doing.”

Valerie is the widow of U.S. Army Cpl. Timothy Lauer, 25, of Meadville, who was killed Oct. 14 along with two other soldiers when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle in Baghdad, Iraq. First Sgt. Charles M. King, 48, of Mobile, Ala., and Staff Sgt. Joseph M. Kane, 35, of Darby, also were killed in the IED blast.

Lauer was on a convoy resupply mission when he and the other two soldiers were killed, said Maj. Timothy Foor. The major said due to the ongoing investigation, information was limited and there was nothing to add at this time.

At a solemn news conference Thursday, Timothy’s younger brothers, Jon Lauer, 24, and Chris Lauer, 19, spoke reverently of their late brother, who was a 2000 graduate of Cochranton Junior-Senior High School.

Valerie Lauer, a mother of four, didn’t formally speak at the news conference. Dressed in black and wearing her husband’s military “dog tag” from basic training, Mrs. Lauer frequently fought back tears as she listened to her brothers-in-law.

The family has been devastated by the death, Jon said. “Words cannot convey what our family and friends are feeling,” he added. “Tim was an excellent brother, husband, father, son and soldier. He is our hero, the truest and finest definition of an American hero. He died protecting and serving our country in a mission he believed in.

“He was the strongest man we ever knew.”

Chris strained to hold back tears and his emotions as he talked about his older sibling.

“Tim was very patient, open-hearted, kind, caring, loving and thoughtful,” Chris said, his voice quavering. “He always put the needs of others before his own. There’s nothing he wouldn’t do for any of his friends.”

Timothy Lauer was a member of Company C, 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division serving out of Fort Hood, Texas.

He was scheduled to return home in November, but knew he’d be going back about eight months later, Jon said. His brother had recently re-enlisted and had dreams of making the Army his career, he added.

Lauer joined up in March 2004 after having worked as a cook at Perkins Family Restaurant in Meadville.

“He said ‘They (the military) set you for life,’ ” Jon said. “He wanted everything to be all right for his family.”

Lauer’s family is “coping as best it can,” Jon said.

“Everybody’s getting through it. The little ones don’t really understand it that well. We’ll get through it as time goes on.”

From the Meadville Tribune

Related Link:
Timothy J. Lauer killed by I.E.D.