Harry Lawrence
Harry Lawrence went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, May 9, 2012. He was born to Frank and Mary (Gagne) Lawrence on Jan. 10, 1925, in Carlton, Minn., as the youngest of 10 children.
Harry Lawrence went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, May 9, 2012. He was born to Frank and Mary (Gagne) Lawrence on Jan. 10, 1925, in Carlton, Minn., as the youngest of 10 children. He graduated from Carlton High School in 1943 and enlisted in the United States Army Air Guard serving with the 313th Wing of the 20th Air Force on the Island of Tinian during World War II. Tinian was the base of 600 B29s and the historic Enola Gay. After the war, he attended the University of Minnesota Duluth for two years. He worked for the Carlton County Vidette and the Cloquet Pine Knot where he served in many capacities and became publisher/editor of the Pine Knot.
Harry was united in marriage to Shirley Ebel on May 7, 1948, in Carlton. They have five children, 14 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. For many years, Harry drove the neighborhood kids to school and entertained them with his own rendition of "Peek a Seek a Porcupine." He was extremely proud of all his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and thought they were the most beautiful/handsome and intelligent children in the world. Harry passed on his "DNA" of golf to his sons and many of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He also loved visits from the children in Colleen's Daycare as they would stop by on their walks and he loved to pass out treats and make them laugh.
Harry was very active in community affairs. He served as fund drive chairman for the original Pine Valley Ice Shelter, and helped raise funds for Community Memorial Hospital, Spafford Park and Fauley Park. He was a member of the UMD Blue Line Club and UMD Athletic Scholarship Committee for 17 years. He served on the Cloquet Country Club Board of Directors, was a charter secretary and past president of the Kiwanis Noon Club, a member of the Cloquet Country Club, served the Cloquet Development and Industrial Corporation Board of Directors, served as Carlton County Civil Defense Director, and served on the Carlton County Airport Commission, receiving an award from the Minnesota Council of Airports for his promotion of aviation in the state. He also earned a private pilot license and helped start an Explorer Scout Post at the Cloquet Airport.
Harry was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Bernard, Edward, Zi, Clarence and Maynard; and sisters, Irene St. George and Doris Lyons.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Shirley; daughters Colleen (Mike Cary) Lawrence of Cloquet and Debbie (Curt) Jensen of Esko, Minn.; sons, Kurt (Sue) Lawrence of Arden Hills, Minn., Steve (Joyce) Lawrence of Woodbury, Minn., and Harry (Kathy) Lawrence Jr. of Eden Prairie, Minn.; 14 grandchildren, Jocelyn, Justin (Andrea) and Jordan (Araya) Jensen, Kyle and Jarid Lawrence, Leah, Trina (Drew Russ) and Kari Lawrence, Harry Charles III, Cole and Abby Lawrence, Carly Cary, and Nate and Zach Cary; four great-grandchildren, Oliver and Oskar Jensen, and Avery and Quinten Jensen; sisters, Lorraine Brattlof of Cloquet and Bede Poldoski of Proctor, Minn.; and many nieces, nephews and their families.
The family would like to express a special thank you to Dad's visiting nurse, Sherry Matthews, and the home aides, Monty Lyons and Jackie Micke. Thank you for your kindness and compassion. Thank you to the respiratory staff at Community Memorial Hospital for their care and kindness, and to the VA Clinics.
Visitation will be held from 5-8 p.m. Sunday, May 13, at Nelson Funeral Care in Cloquet. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, May 14, at Zion Lutheran Church in Cloquet with a one-hour prior visitation. Military honors will be accorded by Cloquet Honor Guard. Refreshments will follow in the church social hall. Interment will be held at Sunset Cemetery in Moose Lake.
The family has selected Nelson Funeral Care of Cloquet to assist them with arrangements. See the family online guest book at www.nelsonfuneralcare.net.
May 17, 2012 ~ Pine Journal, Cloquet, Minn.
Tags: obituaries
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