William C. Lawler 1925-2006

The Carroll Daily Times Harold, July 10, 2006

William C. Lawler, 81, of Carroll died Sunday, July 9, 2006, at St. Anthony Nursing Home in Carroll.

Mass of the Christian burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 12, at St. Ann Catholic Church in Vail with the Rev. John Thomas presiding and the Revs. Lloyd White and Richard Remmes concelebrating. Lectors will be Erin Harpenau and Monica Nees. Gift bearers will be Mr. Lawler's three children. Servers will be Katelynn Venner and Rob Lawler.

Casket bearers will be Jason Harpenau, Danny Harpenau, Keith Venner, Joe Nees, Rick Hertzig and Oran Kohorst. Honorary casket bearers will be Cory Venner, Madison Lawler and Garrett Lawler.

Burial will be in St. Ann Cemetery at Vail.

Visitation starts at 2:30 and the Carroll Knights of Columbus will lead a rosary at 3 Tuesday afternoon at Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll. There will be a Christian wake service at 7:30 Tuesday night at the nursing home. Visitation will resume at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at the church.

A son of Joseph and Charlotte (Hamill) Lawler, he was born June 29, 1925, at Westside, attended Jackson Township No. 7 rural school, graduated from St. Ann High School at Vail in 1943 and spent his lifetime on the family farm north of Westside.

He and Jean Kohorst were married Feb. 12, 1958, at St. John Catholic Church in Arcadia with the Rev. Cletus Ahmann officiating.

The Lawlers farmed until 1996 then moved to Carroll.

Mr. Lawler was a member of St. Lawrence Parish in Carroll, longtime member and usher at St. Ann Parish in Vail and member of the Knights of Columbus. He enjoyed music and dancing.

Survivors include his wife, Jean, of Carroll; three children: Beverly Harpenau and husband Mike of Remsen, Carol Venner and husband Ken of Arcadia and Bill Lawler and wife Mandy of Carroll; eight grandchildren: Jason, Erin and Danny Harpenau, Keith, Katelynn and Cory Venner, and Madison and Garrett Lawler; a brother, Fenton Lawler, and his wife, Betty, of Westside; and sisters and brothers-in-law: Nola Kohorst of Arcadia and Mae and Earl Schechinger of Austin, Minn.

Mr. Lawler was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Don Lawler; two sisters: Mary Frances Lawler and Barbara Lawler in infancy; his parents-in-law, Joe and Mary Kohorst; a sister-in-law, Mary Alice Lawler; and a brother-in-law, Vernon Kohorst.

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