Gordon Lee Lawson 1914-2004

HAMMEL, LAWSON, EVERMAN, WICKMAN, RADLOFF

Posted By: M. Durr - IAGenWeb Volunteer
Date: 5/22/2010 at 17:29:12

Funeral services for Gordon Lawson were held Monday, October 11, 2004, at 11:00 a.m. in St. Paul Lutheran Church at Postville, Iowa. Burial was in the Postville Cemetery. Casket bearers were Hall Everman, Troy Everman, Craig Everman, Jerry Davis, Chad Radloff, Derk Radloff. The Schutte Funeral and Cremation Service of Postville was in charge of arrangements.

Gordon Lee Lawson was born January 17, 1914, to Frank and Ruby (Hammel) Lawson, in Franklin Township, Allamakee County, near Rossville, Iowa. He passed away early Friday morning, October 8, 2004, in the Good Samaritan Center at Postville. He had reached the age of 90 years, 8 months, and 21 days.

He was baptized January 9, 1927 in the Community Presbyterian Church in Postville, by the Reverend Galaway and received into St. Paul Lutheran Church in Postville on March 18, 1951 by the Reverend Frederick R. Ludwig. Gordon attended the Minert rural school and graduated from Postville High School in 1932.

In 1936 he was married to Florence Everman in the Little Brown Church at Nashua, Iowa, by the Reverend William Kent. Two daughters, Laura and Rita Marie, who died in infancy, was born to this union. They farmed for ten years. Gordon and Florence then moved to Postville, where he opened a welding shop. Gordon was a self-taught craftsman, and he liked to fabricate with steel. His greatest achievement was a self-propelled windrower, and he manufactured quite a number of them. In 1955 he sold the rights to manufacture the windrower to Hesston Manufacturing Company of Hesston, Kansas.

He is preceded in death by his parents, a daughter, Rita Marie, who died in infancy, a sister, Marie and her husband, Harvey Wickman, and a sister-in-law, Emma Lawson.

Surviving is his wife, Florence, a daughter, Laura (William) Radloff, Luana, Iowa, four grandchildren, Petra Radloff, Tioga, Texas, Amber Radloff, Madison, Wisconsin, Derk Radloff, Luana, Iowa, and Chad (Darcy) Radloff, Postville, two great grandchildren, Hannah and Logan Radloff, a brother, Leslie Lawson, Postville, and a niece, Beverly Miner, Postville, and her family.

Gordon was a life-time member of the Iowa Blacksmith and Welders Association and of the Local Association. He was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Postville. He also served on the Board of Adjustment from 1982 to 2004 for the City of Postville.

Postville, Iowa newspaper of the time clipping, from my mother's obituary collection. Posted for genealogical purposes, contributor is not related.