James Edward Lawrenz

Services for James Lawrenz are scheduled for Saturday, March 20, 2021, at Wilson's Funeral Home in Wellsville, Kansas. The family will receive visitors at 10:00 a.m. and services will commence at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be at the Vinland Cemetery in Vinland, Kansas.
James Edward Lawrenz left this world on March 14, 2021, to rejoin the love of his life on her heavenly birthday - what a celebration it surely was as they danced and worshipped their Savior Jesus and heavenly Father. James "Jim" was born July 15, 1937, in Lawrence, Kanas. He was raised on a small farm in the Clearfield community, the third of four children born to Frederick Wilhelm Lawrenz and Louise Blanche (Murdoch) Lawrenz. Jim spent many of his teenage summers working as a cowboy on various ranches in the Tensleep, Wyoming area. Oh how he loved riding the canyons and open range. In the early summer of 1958, he stopped by to kiss his girl as he set off for more Wyoming adventure. He never got out of town that summer and married Loretta Lee (Cooper) Lawrenz "the prettiest girl I ever saw" on November 25, 1958. They lived in Lawrence until February 19, 1965, when they moved into the current family home in the rural Baldwin/Wellsville area where they lived in love with one another until Loretta's passing on October 25, 2013.
Jim worked most of his adult life as a commercial truck driver. He always enjoyed driving and traveling, taking the family on annual vacations, sometimes with a full itinerary and sometimes with only a first destination. Perhaps five persons packed in a sedan with luggage and a cooler isn't everyone's idea of a good time, but many lasting wonderful memories remain of those trips and it certainly fostered the wanderlust in each of his children. After the freight line shut down, he worked as a heavy equipment operator and hauler. Jim was always moving and active, working the family farm with brother Bob through 2019, and still chopping wood and puttering at the farm into December, 2020.
Jim was always active in his church, filling whatever capacity was needed; he was first to arrive and at the front door with a welcoming smile and firm handshake for all who would enter. He had a robust, hearty country laugh that, literally, shook the house. All who knew him and loved him will surely miss that laugh.
Those who remain to remember and honor his life and legacy include his son, Kevin Lawrenz, Overland Park; daughters Lois Lawrenz, Olathe, and Angela Watts (Kevin), Baldwin; six grandchildren: Vanessa Hamilton (Johnathan), Gardner, Amanda Saunders, Caribou, ME, Jeremy Lawrenz, Olathe, Tristan Mason (Vanessa), Overland Park, Daniel Lawrenz (Courtney), Spring Hill, Sean Lawrenz (Kacey), Ottawa, and 17 we great-grandchildren; a brother, Robert (Betty) Lawrenz, Eudora, and sister Catherine (Lindsay) Hess, Big Thunder, MN.
Those who have gone before and, with Jesus, welcomed him to the Throne of Grace include his parents; brother, John Lawrenz, and daughter-in-law, Inge Lawrenz.
The family suggests memorial contributions to the Samaritan's Purse in care of Wilson's, PO Box 486, Wellsville, KS 66092.

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