Lori Lapel, age 59 of Wall Lake, IA, passed away on Thursday, August 27, 2020, at her home after a long, courageous battle with multiple system atrophy.
Memorial Services for Lori was held on Sunday at 4 pm at the Peace Lutheran Church. Farber & Otteman Funeral Home of Wall Lake was in charge of handling the arrangements.
Lori Lee Auen was born on September 25, 1960, in Manning, IA, to Phyllis (Druivenga) and Virgil Auen. She was raised on the family farm southwest of Wall Lake along with her older sister, Kathy. Lori was very active in 4-H and sports. After graduating from Wall Lake High School in 1979, Lori attended ICCC for 1 year to obtain her medical assistant certification. She then returned home to marry the love of her life, Jerry Lapel, on August 3, 1980. They made their home near Wall Lake where shortly after turning 21, Jerry and Lori bought Lake Lanes Bowling Alley. They owned and operated it for 8 years. During this time, two children were born, Jonathan and Lindi. In 1987, Lori returned to school at Buena Vista University to obtain her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. A third child, Lacey, was born in 1990. Lori taught 1st-5th grades at Odebolt-Arthur Elementary
School for a total of 23 years, touching many lives and helping students who had fallen through the cracks. She retired in 2012 due to her progressing illness. Lori had a deep love for her family, finding pride in her children and grandchildren’s achievements and keeping a strong connection with her extended relatives. She enjoyed many trips to local casinos and Las Vegas as well as out to Indy to spend time with her favorite people. Lori will be missed for her laugh, love, loyalty, work ethic, strength and perseverance.
Lori is survived by her husband, Jerry of Wall Lake; mother, Phyllis Auen of Wall Lake; children, Jonathan (Abby) Lapel of Vail, Lindi (Tom) Reburn of Moorhead, MN, and Lacey (Ricky) Bruning of Auburn; seven grandchildren, Justin, Levi, Taylor, Carter, Ellie, Parker and Paxton; sister, Kathy (David) Stienstra of Terre Haute, IN; cousins, Michael (Dawn) Altmanshofer of Wall Lake and Jodi (Gary) Hubbard of Indianapolis, IN; aunt, Patricia Wilkes of Fishers, IN; uncle, Robert Altmanshofer of Florence, AZ; and nephew, Matthew Stienstra of Seattle, WA.
She is preceded in death by her father, Virgil Auen; aunt, Joan Altmanshofer; uncle, Steve Wilkes and her grandparents.
