Jean Messer Lau
She will be remembered for her kindness, encouragement, generosity, and unwavering support that touched so many people.
A viewing will be held on July 23, 2026, from 4:00p.m. until 7: 00p.m at Clyde W Kraft Funeral Home, Inc. 519 Walnut Street, Columbia, PA. 17512.
A memorial service will be held privately at the convenience of the family.
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Jean Messer Lau, who died on July 14, 2026 at the age of 79 at home under Hospice care in Lancaster, PA after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.
Jean was born in Columbia, PA to the late Chet Messer and Ruth Kline Messer. She grew up in Columbia, PA and graduated from Millersville University with a BS degree in Education. Throughout her life, Jean worked as a first-grade teacher at Park Elementary School in Columbia for 37 years before retiring in 2007. Jean was also the Varsity Cheerleading coach at Hempfield High School for over 20 years where her teams won multiple awards, including 9 straight National Cheerleading Association top team performance awards.
Above all, Jean cherished family and friends and her 7 beloved grandchildren. She enjoyed supporting her grandchildren at various high school and college sporting events, traveling to Walt Disney World many times every year, and her fond love of stopping at Buc-ees travel center locations throughout the United States. She will be remembered for her kindness, encouragement, generosity, and unwavering support that touched so many people.
Jean is survived by her husband David M Lau, children Jeff Quinn (Laura) of Elizabethtown, PA., Amy Roggenbuch (Douglas) of Toano, VA., and Megan Minder (Michael) of Lancaster, PA. She was the proud grandmother of Dylan, Madeline and Brodan Quinn, Victoria and Abigail Roggenbuch, and Delaney Collins (Noah) and Isaac Minder. She is also survived by her stepfather Gordon Tolson. She was preceded in death by her parents.
A viewing will be held on July 23, 2026, from 4:00p.m. until 7: 00p.m at Clyde W Kraft Funeral Home, Inc. 519 Walnut Street, Columbia, PA. 17512. A memorial service will be held privately at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the American Cancer Society.
Jean's warmth, love, and lasting impact will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Her memory will live on in the hearts of family, friends, and all whose lives she touched as either a family member, friend, teacher or coach.
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