Lorraine "Laurie" (Hofmann) Weier

Lorraine "Laurie" (Hofmann) Weier, 92, passed away peacefully Thursday, May 30, 2024, after a prolonged struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. Laurie moved to Fort Wayne with her beloved husband Herbert (Laurie’s Herbie) in 1958. Married for 66 years, Herb preceded his wife in death in January of 2022. Together, and separately, they impacted the lives of everyone they met, engaging people where they were and improving their lives through education, conversation, philanthropy or just by being the best listeners. Laurie was instrumental in creating improvements in her neighborhood and was a dedicated volunteer for many civic organizations, most notably, the Center for Non-Violence and the Allen County Historical Society. Other commitments included being a docent at the FWMOA, a dedicated supporter of the PFW College of Visual and Performing Arts, the Philharmonic, and the NE Indiana Radio Readers Service. In 1951, Laurie received an Associate’s Degree from of Blackburn College (where she met Herb) and in 1953, received a Bachelor of Science in Food Science, Cum Laude, from the University of Illinois. With this degree in hand, Laurie traveled around rural Illinois to help farm women learn how to better extend the life of their family vegetable gardens. To hear Laurie tell it, many of these women were not that welcoming of a stranger with a college degree. Upon arriving in Fort Wayne, Laurie taught kindergarten and began a life-long commitment to the arts and human services organizations throughout Fort Wayne. A person did not see Laurie without her beloved Herb nearby, supporting each other in ways that were a testament to their dedication and love. Both were life-long learners often attending lectures at churches, civic organizations, and local universities until only their health prohibited it. She had legions of friends spanning the country. She was both brilliant and down-to-earth, always able to present her point of view with clarity and gravity, while considering other’s ideas. Laurie was known by many for her frequent, to say the least, letters to the Journal Gazette on all matters civic, political, and cultural. Laurie is survived her sister-in-law Thelma Hofmann and her children, nephews Steve (Nancy), Carl, John (Cindi) and niece Kathleen (Dennis) McIntire from Iowa and Fred (Sheila) of Kansas. Numerous cousins including Creta and Harold Wilson, and C.R. and Betty McDonald, all of central Illinois. A celebration of Laurie’s life will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 20, 2024 at Klaehn, Fahl & Melton Funeral Home 6424 Winchester Road Fort Wayne, Indiana 46819. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to any of the following: The History Center, Center for Non-Violence, and WBOI Public Radio.