Barbara Lau

Mrs. Barbara Lau, 81, of Elkhart, died Wednesday evening, February 13, 2013 at Hubbard Hill Retirement Center. She was born November 25, 1931 in Farnam, Nebraska, to J. Arthur and Ethel M. (Gugelman) Johnson. On November 5, 1955 she married Robert W. Lau in Elkhart. She is survived by three sons, Robert D. (Pat) Lau of Fort Wayne, Brian D. (Joan) Lau and Bradley D. Lau, both of Elkhart; a daughter-in-law, Casey Lau of Elkhart; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; a sister, June (Eugene) Williamson of Elkhart; and three brothers, Kenneth (Alice) Johnson of Three Rivers, Michigan, Gerald (Betty) Johnson of Elkhart, and Ronald Johnson of Goshen. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and a son, Bruce A. Lau. Mrs. Lau was a 1949 Elkhart High School graduate. She received her nursing degree from Augustana School of Nursing in Chicago. She retired from Goshen General Hospital in 1992. After retirement they spent many years traveling the country before making Florida their home, and then returning to Elkhart. She attended Lamb of God Lutheran Church, Haines City, Florida, and Trinity Lutheran Church, Goshen, and Augustana Lutheran Church, Elkhart. Barbara was a member of the Red Hat Society, and enjoyed dining out with friends, reading, and golfing. Friends may call Tuesday, February 19, 2013 from 1 until the 4:00 p.m. memorial service at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home. Pastor Steve Reshan of Augustana Lutheran Church, Elkhart, will officiate. Burial of her cremated remains will be at a later date at Chapel Hills Memorial Garden. Memorials may be directed to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.