Diana Keefover Lauer

Profile Updated: August 25, 2023
Diana Keefover
Residing In: Topeka, KS USA
Spouse/Partner: John Lauer
Children and Grandchildren: Children: Wm Bret Hentzler, born 1963, deceased 2022; Brooke Louanne Hentzler Roark, born 1970

Grandchildren: More…Wm Joseph (Joey) Hentzler, born 1993; Benjamin Nathan (Ben) Hentzler, born 1996; Nicholas Leigh (Nick) Roark, born 1996; William Jess (Will) Roark, born 2000; Haden Anthony Roark, born 2003; Maximillian H. (Max) Roark, born 2007. Yes, all boys!
Great Grandchild: Luna Gray Hentzler, born 2021. Finally, a girl!
Occupation: Interior Designer, semi retired. Session employee for the Kansas Legislature since 2008.
Diana Keefover

Yearbook

Yes! Attending Reunion
E-mail Address:

jhlauer@prodigy.net

How did you spend your "working" years, including volunteer work?

After graduating from Kansas State University in 1966 with a degree in Interior Design, I mainly worked with residential clients through Design Forum in Topeka. In 1977, I joined Kiene and Bradley Design Group and was fortunate to work on the interiors of many area buildings. The renovation of Topeka's Municipal Auditorium (remember where the Circus, the Harlem Globe Trotters games, and even Liberace's concert were held?) into Topeka Performing Arts Center has been the most exciting and rewarding. I left the firm in 1992 to work independently with a local developer on several Holiday Inns throughout the Midwest. Since then I have worked with other developers and owners of commercial properties and with home owners doing extensive remodeling. Because of several factors, with the downturn in the economy being the main one, since 2008 I have also worked for the Kansas Legislature which keeps me busy from January into May each year. I had become curious about the process of making (and changing!) our laws and when several friends suggested "@that I might like working during session, I decided to give it a try. It's a lot more complicated and drawn out than I ever imagined, but I have enjoyed watching the process every year and look forward to going back each year.

What are your hobbies, pastimes, causes, leisure activities?

My family has always been my number one priority and I attended every school function, athletic event and band performance, summer sports and dance recital my children participated in, as well as helping out when I could with Boy Scouts, Bluebirds and school carnivals! Now I do the same for my grandsons. That keeps me busy, but I wouldn't have it any other way! I have been involved in several professional and women's organizations at the local level over the years, serving in various offices. I am still very active in one that encourages and supports women who either own their own business or who would like to do so.

John and I love spending time with family and friends here in Topeka, Kansas City, Tennessee, Texas, Ohio, Florida and there are other states we have yet to go. We enjoy visiting historical sites in Kansas and anywhere along the way our travels take us. Antiquing and attending auctions are also things we like to do.

School Memories:

I came to HPHS as a Freshman from a class of 14 at Wanamaker School in the Washburn Rural District where I had attended only for the last six months of eighth grade. We moved to rural Topeka from Clay Center, KS with a population of 5,000, and then in July of 1958, we moved into the Highland Crest area. As I recall there were around 300 students in our class alone that fall, and I remember being overwhelmed by so many new students and teachers, as well as the size of the school! Because talking in class was naturally frowned on, I decided, with the prodding of my mother and the suggestion given during Freshman Orientation, that the best way to get to know other students was to join extracurricular clubs, including the Pep Club. I remember Pep Club initiation, swimming at the "Y", field trips, initiation into Girls' H Club, overnights held at the school, the Bobby Sox Club (wasn't that an ex-officio club?), running for class office and Student Council, planning the Prom our Junior year, and riding a school bus to out of town football and basketball games. I not only developed friendships that lasted throughout high school, but also some that I still enjoy!

Diana's Latest Interactions

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Diana Keefover Lauer has a birthday today. New comment added.
Jan
28
Jan 28, 2024 at 1:06 PM

Posted on: Jan 28, 2024 at 3:33 AM

Jan
05
Jan 05, 2024 at 9:44 AM

Happy Birthday, Crystal! I hope 2024 is a wonderful year for you and your family.

Oct
03
Oct 03, 2023 at 10:43 PM

Happy Birthday, John. I hope you have had a great day! Pl

Sep
10
Sep 10, 2023 at 2:07 PM

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JUDY! I hope you have a great day.

Sep 10, 2023 at 2:01 PM

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JEANETTE! I hope you have a wonderful day.

Sep
07
Sep 07, 2023 at 10:51 PM

I hope you had a wonderful birthday! It was a beautiful day to celebrate.

Aug
28
Aug 28, 2023 at 10:46 AM

Happy Birthday, Joyce! I hope you have a wonderful day. May memories of our years at HPHS and working at Duckwalls in the summer of 1961 make you smile!

Aug
25
Aug 25, 2023 at 9:31 AM
Diana Keefover Lauer posted a message. New comment added.
Aug
26
Aug 26, 2023 at 8:44 AM

Posted on: Aug 25, 2023 at 9:23 AM

I hope your birthday was wonderful! Aren’t grandkids the best and great grandchildren so special?

Aug
13
Aug 13, 2023 at 9:50 PM

I hope you are having a wonderful day!

Diana Keefover Lauer added a comment on Profile.
Jul
30
Jul 30, 2023 at 8:56 AM
Jul
27
Jul 27, 2023 at 1:00 PM

Happy Birthday, Ron! Hope you and Stephanie have a wonderful day.

Diana Keefover Lauer added a comment on Profile.
Jul 27, 2023 at 12:55 PM
Diana Keefover Lauer has a birthday today. New comment added.
Jan 29, 2023 at 11:29 AM

Posted on: Jan 28, 2023 at 3:33 AM

Nov 11, 2022 at 9:44 AM

Jennie, I hope you had a wonderful birthday! I hope all is going well in your life.

Oct 03, 2022 at 6:58 PM

Happy Birthday, John! I hope you are having a great day. It was so good to talk with you at the reunion and I really enjoyed spending time with you and Svetlana. Maybe we can do it again in two years when we celebrate our 80th birthdays!

Sep 09, 2022 at 10:33 PM

I hope you have a wonderful birthday!

Sep 09, 2022 at 10:26 PM

I hope you have a wonderful birthday celebration! See you soon at our reunion.

Sep 09, 2022 at 10:18 PM

I hope your birthday was wonderful! See you soon at our reunion.

Diana Keefover Lauer posted a message. New comment added.
Jul 10, 2022 at 1:17 PM

Posted on: Jul 08, 2022 at 12:42 PM

I hope you have a wonderful birthday celebration! Stay cool whatever you do. See you in September. L