Viola Florence Lauver

1934 - 2022  (88 years)

• Name	Viola Florence Lauver
  Born	2 Jul 1934	Duchess, , Alberta, Canada
  Gender	Female
  Crime	2022
  	murder
  FindAGrave	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/243993912
  Name	Viola Florence Erb
  Residence	2781 Sandhills Rd., Wilmot Township, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-204794
  Died	24 Sep 2022	Baden, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Buried	Steinmann Mennonite Cemetery, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Person ID	I204794	Generations
  Last Modified	28 Jan 2025

  
  

  Family	Vernon David Erb,   b. 24 Oct 1935, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 20 May 2020  (Age 84 years)
  Children	1. Wendell James Erb
  Last Modified	29 Jan 2025
  Family ID	F41760	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  ERB, Viola (Lauver) Viola Florence Erb, born July 2, 1934, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on Saturday, September 24, 2022, at her residence in Baden, Ontario. Viola was born in Duchess Alberta to a family of all girls including her twin sister Violet. As the girls came of age each of them set out across the country for further education and Viola chose the Ontario Mennonite Bible School and Institute in Kitchener. It was there, singing in a trio she caught the eye of her future husband Vernon who was the President of the Fireside Youth Group. Given Vernon's position of President of the youth group, Viola accepted a ride home and by the end of the year they were married. While Vernon had the vision for his trucking ambitions, Viola was the driving force behind achieving their goals. In the early days, Viola was the dispatcher, bookkeeper and payroll when Vernon was out on the road. She tried to retire on 1980, but that was short lived. Viola always balanced every ledger to the last penny, it took a few years for her to feel comfortable knowing the company was in good hands without her there every day. In the mid nineties Viola coined the slogan Another Cool Move which has been on every Erb trailer since then. Another Cool Move has become as memorable as the company she co-founded with Vernon in 1959. Viola's retirement was full time quilting and gardening. While gardening was more of a challenge in the last years, Quilting and knitting never let up. Sewing machines and ironing boards were permanent fixtures in the family room. Everything was donated or given away to less fortunate. For many years their annual winter trip to Florida would be postponed with Viola citing her commitments at church as the reason not to leave just yet. Her faith in the Lord was a guiding principle in her life. Cherished and loving mother of Karen Erb (Donald Davidson), Wendell Erb (Cheryl) and Darryl Erb (Rhonda). Viola was a devoted and proud grandmother to Justin Buhr (Jamie Mackay), Lindsey Ng (Gabriel). Kyle Erb (Anne), Katie Harris (Ted), Tyler Erb (Sophia), Emma Erb, and Cameron Kiecman. Great-grandmother of Annycka, Beau, Cameron, Claire, Ailie and Kelly. Viola will be missed by her sisters Grace Torkleson, Mabel and husband Walter Paetkau and Violet and husband Titus Beam, by sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Erma Bisset and Marjorie Erb (Stanley Herrfort). Predeceased and now reunited with her beloved husband Vernon Erb who passed away on May 20, 2020, her parents, William and Elizabeth Lauver, granddaughter Nicole Kiecman, sister Gladys Martin and her husband Harvey, brothers in law and sisters in law Ken Torkleson, Vera Koehler and husband Fred, Edmund Erb and Craig Bisset Relatives and friends are invited to the Mark Jutzi Funeral Home, 291 Huron Street, on Saturday, October 1, 2022, from 1 \endash 5 p.m. and again on Sunday, October 2, 2022, from 1 \endash 5 p.m. the funeral service will take place on Monday, October 3, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. at Steinmann Mennonite Church, 1316 Snyder's Road West, Baden. Interment to follow at the adjoining church cemetery. The funeral service will be livestreamed for those unable to attend. Expressions of sympathy and in lieu of flowers donations would be accepted to Steinmann Mennonite Church or Isaiah Projects and can be done through the funeral home website. Personal condolences and donation information available at www.markjutzifuneralhomes.ca "Viola ERB Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information". 2022. Markjutzifuneralhomes.Ca. https://www.markjutzifuneralhomes.ca/memorials/viola-erb/5030333/index.php. _________________________ Death of Viola Erb investigated as homicide, police confirm identity Erb Group of Companies confirmed that Viola Erb died on Saturday By Cheyenne Bholla Record Reporter BADEN \emdash The search for information into the death of an 88-year-old woman has turned into a homicide investigation. Waterloo Regional Police confirmed on Wednesday that the victim is Viola Erb, the woman who started Erb Transport Ltd. with her late husband Vernon. Erb Group of Companies, the overarching company, told The Record on Tuesday that Erb died over the weekend. Emergency services were called to a house on Sandhills Drive for a medical call on Saturday at around 1:20 p.m. The body of the 88-year-old woman was found at the home. Initially, police deemed the death as suspicious, but further information has led detectives to declare the incident a homicide. On Tuesday afternoon, police were seen investigating at 2781 Sandhills Dr., a house with the mailbox labelled "Vern Viola Erb." Wilmot Mayor Les Armstrong said the township is "deeply saddened" to hear about Erb's death, a loss that will be felt across the township. "Viola has been a significant contributor to the Wilmot community, and alongside her husband Vernon, built one of the most successful transportation companies in the country," Armstrong said in an emailed statement. "Viola leaves behind a legacy of generosity, kindness, humility, and community service. She will forever be remembered as a community builder." The major crime unit continues to investigate Erb's death. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 519-570-9777, extension 8191, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. "Death Of Viola Erb Investigated As Homicide, Police Confirm Identity". 2022. Therecord.Com. https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/2022/09/28/death-of-viola-erb-investigated-as-homicide-police-confirm-identity.html?li_source=LI&li_medium=rec_web_ymbii. _________________ Wilmot man charged with murdering Viola Erb Erick Buhr appeared in court Thursday on a second-degree murder charge By Cheyenne Bholla Record Reporter Gordon Paul Record Reporter BADEN \emdash A Wilmot Township man has been charged with murdering Viola Erb, the woman who started Erb Transport Ltd. with her late husband Vernon. Erb, 88, was found dead in a house on Sandhills Road in Baden on Saturday. Erick Buhr, 39, appeared in Kitchener court on Thursday charged with second-degree murder. An Erb Group of Companies publication about the company's history identified Buhr as Erb's grandson. Buhr, represented by defence lawyer Bruce Ritter, was asked only his name in court. He was ordered held in custody and returns to court on Oct. 19. Buhr is also charged with breaching the terms of a conditional sentence. A justice of the peace agreed to a request by Crown prosecutor Simon McNaughton to prohibit Buhr from contacting eight named individuals. Initially, police deemed Erb's death suspicious. More information led detectives to declare it a homicide. On Tuesday afternoon, police were seen investigating at 2781 Sandhills Rd., a house with the mailbox labelled "Vern Viola Erb." By Thursday afternoon, the police tape had been taken down from the front door, side yard and backyard. There were also no police officers or cars seen around the property. Erb's death happened "suddenly and unexpectedly," read her obituary posted on Mark Jutzi Funeral Home website, a funeral home based in New Hamburg. Erb was born in Duchess, a southern Alberta village, as one of four girls. She met her husband Vernon at the Ontario Mennonite Bible School and Institute in Kitchener before the two got married. The two then started Erb Transport Limited in 1959, where Viola started off as the dispatcher, bookkeeper and payroll while Vernon was out on the road. Viola created the slogan "Another Cool Move" in the mid-nineties, words seen painted onto the side of company trucks. Wilmot Mayor Les Armstrong previously said the township is "deeply saddened" to hear about Erb's death, a loss that will be felt across the township. "Viola has been a significant contributor to the Wilmot community, and alongside her husband Vernon, built one of the most successful transportation companies in the country," Armstrong said in an emailed statement. "Viola leaves behind a legacy of generosity, kindness, humility, and community service. She will forever be remembered as a community builder." After retiring, Viola liked to quilt, knit and garden, with sewing machines and ironing boards "permanent fixtures in the family room," read the obituary. Faith was an important part of Viola's life as a member of the Baden-based Steinmann Mennonite Church. Relatives and friends are invited to Mark Jutzi Funeral Home for visitation on Oct. 1 and Oct. 2, with the service held on Oct. 3 at Steinmann Mennonite Church. The service will be livestreamed for people who can't attend in-person. Expressions of sympathy and in lieu of flower donations will be accepted to Steinmann Mennonite Church or Isaiah Project and can be done through the funeral home's website. "Wilmot Man Charged With Murdering Viola Erb". 2022. Therecord.Com. https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/2022/09/29/wilmot-man-charged-with-murdering-viola-erb.html.

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 2 Jul 1934 - Duchess, , Alberta, Canada Died - 24 Sep 2022 - Baden, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Buried - - Steinmann Mennonite Cemetery, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth