Lawrence Eugene Hall
November 6, 1944 - August 1, 2017

Lawrence Hall, 72, Hastings, IA, passed away at his home on August 1, 2017.

Military Honors and Graveside Service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, August 4, 2017 at the Hastings Cemetery.

Celebration of Life Gathering will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, August 4, 2017 at the Hastings Community Building.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, memorials are directed to the family.

Loess Hills Funeral Home of Malvern in charge of arrangements.


Lawrence Eugene Hall, son of Rose Angeline Hall, was born on November 6, 1944 in Hastings, Iowa. Following his education, he enlisted into the United States Army in 1962 and was stationed in Korea, Germany, and throughout the United States, and did two tours in Vietnam. He served with the 326th Combat Engineer Battalion supporting the 101st Airborne Division, first as a 12B4H Combat Engineer (a fighter as well as a builder of defenses for fellow solders as well as a destroyer of enemy defensive positions and obstacles along the battlefield) and then as a 12C40 Bridge Specialist (providing bridge and rafting support for dry and wet gap crossing operations when a squad, section or platoon tackles rough terrain in combat situations). Lawrence was honorably discharge in 1982 at the rank of Sergeant First Class after serving 20 years in the Army. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal (1st Oak Leaf Cluster), Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 6 Campaign Stars, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Air Assault Badge, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (2), Overseas Service Bars (2), and Good Conduct Medal (6th Award).

Lawrence and Eva Marie (Rehm) Gibbs were married on July 3, 1977 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. His family grew to include Eva's daughter Natalie and they were blessed with two more daughters, Margo Jean and Barbara Ann.

Lawrence worked briefly as a commercial fisherman, then was an engineer inspector for the government in Tennessee. The family later moved to live near his relatives in Hastings, Iowa and Lawrence worked as a construction masonry laborer until his retirement. He enjoyed fishing and squirrel hunting, gardening and was handy in woodworking and fixing things. Lawrence loved having his dogs around. Lawrence was proud of the backyard pond he made, complete with a fountain, aptly dubbed the "blue lagoon". Everyone knew he was a hard-worker, providing for his family, whom he loved dearly, as well as a good friend to all.

Lawrence passed away at his home in Hastings, Iowa on August 1, 2017 from lung cancer due to exposure to Agent Orange. He attained the age of 72 years, 8 months, and 25 days. Lawrence was preceded in death by his mother Rose Logan Jacobe; stepfathers, Clyde Logan and Jack Jacobe; and siblings, Martha Logan, Becky Logan, Nancy Fesler, and Carl Logan.

Lawrence is survived by his wife of 40 years Eva Hall of Hastings; daughters, Natalie Rehm of Shelby, IA, Margo Hall of Hastings, and Barbara Hall of Tabor, IA; nine grandkids, Sara, Marshall, Daeden, Shelby, Shannon, Courtney, Crystal, Chelsey, and Kaliey; five great grandkids; siblings, Irene Luick, Kathy Schafer, Sarah Barry, and James Dean Logan; sister-in-law LaVay Logan; many extended relatives; and a host of friends.

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