Staff
Our staff is committed to providing support, compassion, information, and direction as needed to all members of our community, their families, and friends who are dealing with loss and grief.
Steve attended Henry Ford Community College in Dearborn, Michigan where he received his Associate in Science Degree transferring to Wayne State University where he completed his studies in Mortuary Science in June 1977. He became a Licensed Funeral Director in 1978 and work at several large Detroit area funeral homes before purchasing his first in Jackson, Michigan in June of 1981 and second in Concord, Michigan in November 1984.
He married Candy Thurlow in 1978, moved first to Jackson, and then settling in Concord and together they had 3 children. Stephanie who married Drew Johnson of Concord in 2004 and is employed at Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor and together they moved to Manchester, MI. Kevin, who lives in Concord and is a Paramedic with Jackson Community Ambulance and Brian who is currently attending Pittsburg Institute of Mortuary Science, is a graduate of Western Michigan University and planning to become a Licensed Funeral Director and joining the family business.
Steve belongs to the National Funeral Directors Association, Michigan Funeral Directors Association and is a certified firefighter and Medical First Responder, retiring as Fire Chief for the community of Concord in 2008.
Brian graduated from Concord High School in 2005. After graduation, he attended Western Michigan University majoring in Interdisciplinary Health and graduated in 2009. After graduating Western Michigan University, he attended the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science where he graduated in 2011.
Brian lives in Jackson with his wife, Kalle, and their dogs Lucy and Aluna who you may see aound the funeral home occasionally. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his wife going on hikes, playing with their dogs, or working out.
Growing up in the business he has gained an understanding of helping the families we serve. He pays close attention to personalizing each funeral to meet the needs of the family.
Candy went to college after high school to become a medical technician. Her first employer, Dr. Raymond Cole, set up a lab in his office. She left after 3 years to work at Riverside Hospital in Trenton, Michigan. She met Steve in 1977 and they married in 1978. In 1981, they purchased the Jackson Funeral Home and had their first child, Stephanie. Not having experience in the funeral business, she was excited to learn and be a major part of helping out with all aspects of the funerals. In 1984, they had a son, Kevin, and also purchased the Concord Funeral Home. They moved to Concord in 1986 and had their third, Brian in 1987.
Candy worked in the funeral homes and also opened up two flower shops to coincide with the funeral business. When Brian graduated in 2009, she decided to retire from the flower shops to pursue her degree in mortuary science. She graduated in 2012 and took her national and state boards. She is now a licensed funeral director.
She enjoys meeting the families and getting to know about their loved one. She loves to brainstorm with Brian to come up with new ways to personalize each service. Her and Steve live in Concord during winter months and they both spend a lot of time at their lake home on Gun Lake. Her and Steve have 2 rescued St. Bernard’s, Ellie and Gus, and love to camp with the dogs during he summer.
Hannah Khatter moved from Dearborn, Michigan to Jackson, Michigan in 2022 and began as an assistant for Lauer Funeral Homes in Jackson and Concord.
Hannah quickly learned she has a calling towards assisting families in their time of need and began her path to becoming a Funeral Director. She is currently completing her apprenticeship under Steven and Brian Lauer and plans on attending mortuary school afterwards.
Nala is a purebred Saint Bernard who has been working for Lauer Family Funeral Homes for over 5 years. She got her start in the Funeral Home in 2012 when Brian rescued her from the Cascades Humane Society in Jackson. Her favorite thing to do at work is to greet people as they come in for visitations in hopes that they will scratch her furry belly. She is a laid back pooch and is always willing to provide comfort to all. When she is not at work she enjoys short walks, sleeping on big beds, and running around with a squeaky toy in her mouth.