Lawrence ESPE

ESPE, JOHNSON, LEIN, MAYES, RODRIGUEZ, RUSSELL

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 9/29/2006 at 10:17:15

Lawrence Espe, 84, of Clarion, passed away Thursday, September 2, 2004 at the USA Healthcare Center in Clarion. Funeral services were held Monday, September 6th at the United Church of Christ Congregational in Clarion. Rev. Charles Espe and Rev. Curt Miner officiated at the 2 p.m. service.

Lawrence was born December 28, 1919 in rural Kanawha, the son of Austin and Marian (Johnson) Espe. He graduated from Kanawha High School in 1937. Lawrence married Lois Lein on January 10, 1940. They had three sons, Roger, Steve and Mitch. He began farming in rural Kanawha in 1940 and retired in 1980. His wife, Lois, died December 3, 1972. In 1977, Lawrence married Alice (Mayes) Rodriguez and moved to Clarion. Lawrence was baptized, confirmed, and a lifelong member of St. John's Lutheran Church until its closing in 1993. He served on the Kanawha School Board, the Kanawha Bank Board, and was treasurer of St. John's Church for many years. After he retired, he enjoyed driving to the farm every day. He especially enjoyed the spring planting and the fall harvest. Golf, his vegetable garden, and splitting his own wood were his interests, but family always came first.

Lawrence is survived by his wife, Alice of Clarion; sons, Roger Espe and wife, Nancy of Des Moines, Steve Espe and wife, Gail of Des Moines, Mitch Espe and wife, Chris of Newbury Park, California, Jim Rodriguez and wife, Jill of Des Moines, John Rodriguez and wife, Lorene of Cedar Rapids; daughter, Judie Rodriguez and husband, Rob of Tucson, Arizona; 18 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Lois; sister, Gladys and husband, Glenn Russell; brother, Roy and brother, Harlan and wife, Azile.

September 9, 2004
© Wright County Monitor 2004