Rev. William Orville "Bill" Lawson died on Thursday, April 11, 2024, as death claimed a temporary victory. But our Lord's promise is "the last enemy to be destroyed is death". Thanks be to God that His victory over death and the grave will also be ours, through our faith in Him.

Bill was born in Racine, WI on February 4, 1934, to Orville R. and Irma B. (Lange) Lawson. He was baptized at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Racine, on April 15 of that year, which was also his mother's birthday. In the same church he also publicly affirmed his faith in Jesus as his Savior on March 21, 1948, in the Rite of Confirmation.

In Racine, he attended N.D. Fratt Elementary School; McKinley Junior High School, and Washington Park High School's graduating class of 1952. He received a BA in Business Administration from Dana College, Blair, NE in 1956. He attended Central Seminary, Fremont, NE (1956-57) and graduated from Trinity Seminary, Dubuque, IA with a MDiv. in May 1960.

On June 9, 1956, he married Antoinette "Toni" Nelson at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Denmark, WI. Three children were born to them. Scott Jay (Maureen Behringer-Lawson) Lawson; Jolene Kay (Lawson) Bartlett (Tim Dooley), all from Green Bay and Krista May (Lawson) Goodrie (Tom) Springfield, OR.

His much-loved grandchildren are Lucas James Bartlett, Minneapolis, MN and Landon William (Jenessa Liston) Bartlett, Salt Lake City, UT; Ken Behringer (FL) and Griffin Michael Lawson (Kayla Brice), Two Rivers; Alec Lange (Goodrie) Covert (Jacob), Canby, OR, Anna Elizabeth Goodrie and Nora Jane Goodrie (Maddison Maffeo), Springfield, OR; great-grandchildren Michael Behringer, Green Bay, and Jaxon Dean, Cooper William, and Paige Annette Covert, Canby, OR.

After ordination in the new Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Racine on June 5, 1960, Bill enjoyed 38 years of parish ministry. He served Trinity Lutheran Church, Waupaca, WI (1960-62); Calvary Lutheran Church, Minocqua, WI (1962-67) and Trinity Lutheran Church, Green Bay, WI (1967- until his retirement February 15, 1998).

Following parish retirement, he was employed by and enjoyed working at Blaney Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Green Bay. Health reasons lead him to retire but he continued to visit his Blaney family weekly for coffee and 'conversation', including on the morning of his death.

During winter months, he and Toni lived in Eugene, OR where he served as Visitation Pastor for Bethesda Lutheran Church, the church in which he served his seminary internship (1958-59) prior to his seminary graduation and ordination. During those winters, he loved spending time with his granddaughters, rekindling church friendships, and he developed a love for University of Oregon Ducks athletics. Go Ducks!

At age 55 he started jogging. For 10 years he participated in the Green Bay Bellin Run and the Belgian Days run in Brussels, WI. While at the family cottage on Breezy Acres Road in Southern Door Co. he later turned to biking, traveling many of the back roads until the cottage was sold in July 2014.

Bill loved teaching Bible studies, producing the radio program 'Morning Has Broken', reading, photography, and using his computer to design, print, and send "Just Ducky Greeting Cards" to family members and friends. "Great cards for great people".  He served on the original board of CO-CARE neighborhood association, the first such association in Green Bay comprised of members of Trinity Lutheran, St. Patrick Catholic, First Presbyterian, and the Salvation Army. He was also a member of the Humanitarian Award Committee of the Fort Howard Paper Foundation, as well as a member of the UWGB Ecumenical Center Board (now the Richard Marthe Center).

His wife, Toni, his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were the loves of his life.

Other than for his Lord Jesus Christ, his longest love was for the Chicago Cubs, being introduced to them by his father. Their last World Series competition dates back to 1945 when he was 11 years old. Bill had hoped to live long enough to see them play another one and in 2016 he witnessed their victory.

He was preceded in death by his great-grandparents, George and Sena Abrahamsen; grandparents, Martin and Ellen Lange and Dan and Mayme Davis; his parents and parents-in-law Howard and Alice Nelson; in-laws Bill and Ann Nelson, and Shirley Youra.

He is survived by his wife, children and spouses; grandchildren; great grandchildren; in-laws Lois and Clifford Kane, Doug Youra, Dale Nelson; cousins, nieces, and nephews.

He asks his family and friends to hold fast to the words of the Apostle Paul, who wrote, "we sorrow, but not as those who have no hope. For since we believe Jesus died and rose again, so we believe Jesus will bring with HIM those who have fallen asleep".

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be sent to Grace Lutheran Church. Please designate from the selection below.  Donate online: https://secure.myvanco.com/YKF4/home

• ·         Rev. Dean and Mary Kilgust Pastoral Ministry Scholarship
• ·         Trinity Lutheran Church Food Pantry
• ·         Grace Lutheran Church Food Pantry

Friends and family will gather at Grace Lutheran Church, 321 S Madison St., from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 21; The celebration service of his life here, and the one to come will follow at 3pm.  Burial will be at Pleasant Hill Cemetery. To send online condolences, please go to www.BlaneyFuneralHome.com.