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From: Bob and Elaine McDowell <>
Subject: [GV] obit: Mable Lauer Unrein
Date: Tue, 03 Jul 2007 07:43:59 -0600


Journal Advocate
Sterling, Colorado
07-03-2007

Mabel “Mae” Unrein
March 22, 1916 — June 30, 2007
Monday, July 2, 2007 4:08 PM MDT

Mabel “Mae” Unrein, 91, of Sterling, died Saturday, June 30, 2007 in
Sterling. Visitation is from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 3, with
vigil and rosary to follow at 7 p.m. at Tennant Funeral Home. A second
visitation is scheduled from noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday, July 4. Funeral
services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 5, at Saint Anthony
Catholic Church with Father Robert Wedow officiating. Burial will follow
at Riverside Cemetery.

Mae was born March 22, 1916, to Albert and Barbara (Fisher) Lauer in
Brighton. Mae’s family was among the German-Russian immigrants that
settled along the South Platte to work the sugar beet farms. By age six
Mae worked in the fields alongside her mother, father, and eight of her
siblings. In 1918 she and her family moved to Sterling, were she
attended school at St. Anthony’s.

Mae saw many things in her life. She lived through two World Wars, the
Dust Bowl of the early 1930s, and the Great Depression. She traveled by
horse drawn wagon in her youth, and in 1984 flew for the first time.

On Nov. 24, 1936, Mae married Lawrence Unrein at St. Anthony Catholic
Church. The couple lived and farmed at Padroni, Crook, Atwood and
Merino, where they raised seven children. Lawrence and Mae left farming
in 1969 before settling in Sterling, where Mae worked at Rose Arbor
Nursing Home for seven and a half years as a cook’s assistant and cook,
retiring in 1977.

Following her retirement, Mae volunteered at Devonshire Acres for
several years. She was an active member of the Legion of Mary, St.
Margaret’s Circle, and the Columbian Auxiliary. Until 2005, Mae enjoyed
helping serve funeral dinners at St. Anthony’s.

Mae’s vitality and enjoyment of life was an inspiration to her family
and friends. She enjoyed a good game of dominoes with her
great-grandchildren, and played a lot of pinochle with the funeral
ladies. Her family was astounded by her ability to remember the birth
dates of all her grandchildren. Though she will be missed, she left her
family with so many warm and happy memories.

Mae is survived by her children, Harold and Dorothy Unrein of Sterling,
Paul and Lorraine Unrein of Sterling, Joan and Jim Atkin of Fleming,
Gerald Unrein of Arvada, Ron and Patty Unrein of Fort Morgan, Gary and
Denise Unrein of Pinedale, Wyo., and Ray and Gayle Unrein of Sterling;
13 grandsons, 11 granddaughters, 39 great-grandchildren, and five
great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence in 1983; her parents;
five brothers, John, Albert, Martin, Joe and Paul; and five sisters,
Lillian, Mary, Katie, Annie and Betty.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Saint
Anthony’s parking lot fund.

— Paid Memorial

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