CPL Elijah R Lanier

Corporal Elijah R. Lanier, 22, of Camp Pendleton, California, passed away October 15, 2024. He was born February 15, 2002, in Fort Smith, Arkansas, the son of Ricky Nelson Lanier and Karen Darlene (Gwynn) Gerber. Elijah has resided at Camp Pendleton for the past three years, formerly of Chanute, Kansas. He graduated from Chanute High School with the class of 2020. Elijah was a data systems administrator for the United States Marine Corps. He loved music, played the keyboard and enjoyed playing video games. Elijah is survived by his mother, Karen Gerber of Sterling, KS; father, Rickey Lanier of Spiro, OK; maternal grandmother, Annie Celestine Gwynn of MS; brother, Matthew Gerber and wife Amanda of Chanute, KS; four sisters, Marisha Thiessen and husband Todd of Buhler, KS, Celeste Gerber of Nickerson, KS, Amanda Hunter of CO, and Michele Yost of Montezuma, KS; and several nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Morrison Aldene Gwynn; paternal grandparents; and two sisters, Jaime Michelle Carr and Micaela Shea Gerber. Funeral service will be at 1:00 P.M., Friday, November 1, 2024, at Birzer Funeral Home, Sterling, with Pastor Nickia Larsen officiating. Burial will follow at the Sterling Community Cemetery, Sterling, with military honors by the United States Marine Corps. Visitation will be from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M., Thursday, October 31, 2024, at Birzer Funeral Home, Sterling, with family present. Memorials may be given to Wounded Warrior Project in care of Birzer Funeral Home, Sterling. 

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