John P. Lawler

John Patrick Lawler was born July 26, 1938 in Carroll, Iowa. The son of Daniel Ambrose and Andella Lawler; he died on May 15, 2015 at Twilight Acres Nursing Home in Wall Lake, Iowa. John was baptized and confirmed at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Wall Lake, Iowa. He attended grade school at Jackson #1, graduating with the Wall Lake High School class of 1956. After graduation he joined his father in their farming operation south of Wall Lake, a Century Farm that has been in the Lawler family since 1873. He was united in marriage to Joan Frederick on June 1, 1957. Five children were born to this union: John Michael, Donald, Kathleen, Teresa, and Diana. On September 1, 1973 John married Sharil Jentzen Lamaack. He then became the father of nine, adding Cindy, Gail, Jelene and Lynn to his family. In 1972 John went to work for JC Penney in the men’s department, followed by working in the appliance department at Montgomery Ward. In 1978 he was transferred to the Ward store in Oskaloosa before moving back to Crawford County in 1980. John began working at Jurgensen Implement selling farm machinery. From there he went to work at Haley Implement which he enjoyed for many ...[more]

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rs. Following his retirement, he helped his son, Mike, at Wall Lake Hardware. He also enjoyed auctioning. John was a member of St. Ann Catholic Church in Vail where he was a member of the choir. He was proud to note 47 years of sobriety in January. He served on the Vail City Council and was elected mayor of Vail in 1987. In 1988 he was elected to the Crawford County Board of Supervisors. He thoroughly enjoyed serving the people of Crawford County for twenty years. One of John’s greatest joys was going out to the family farm with his dog, Buffy. Memories of Dad and Grandpa were bountiful. Driving the ‘white bomb’ super-fast to give his kids the thrill of the tickly hill. Singing “You are My Sunshine” at the top of his lungs. Family vacations included a trip to Chicago with three adults and seven kids in the Mercury. When everyone, but John, went to the zoo, he locked himself out of Kathleen’s house. To entertain himself, he rode a bicycle up and down the street. Grandpa John drove the vehicle in many Farm Festival parades with the grandkids throwing candy. When John was ready to go home he would always say to Sharil, “Well, dear,” the signal that he was ready to leave. Taking Patrick and Michael pheasant hunting out at the Lawler farm. Whenever he was asked what he wanted for his birthday, his response was a “Shetland pony.” Requesting soil from the Lawler castle in Ireland instead of any fancy gift. Hamburgers at the Irwin Sale Barn. Early morning stockyard trips to Omaha and Sioux City. Chewing Copenhagen with Uncle Clarence and Uncle Joe. The red Dodge pickup. Going to the movie “The Godfather” at the drive-in. The hamburger skillet. Carrying lunch to the fields. The .22 rifle on the tractor. The 560 I.H. Tractor. Driving like crazy through the night to get home for the moon landing. Popcorn and Diet Coke. Attending all of the grandchildren’s events. Preceding John in death were his parents and a granddaughter, Kelsey . He is survived by his wife, Sharil; his children: Mike; Don and wife, Naomi; Kathleen and husband, Jim; Teresa and husband, Ted; Diana and husband, Jeff; Cindy and husband, Dan; Gail and husband, Mike; Jelene and husband, Pat and Lynn and wife, Julie; 23 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren with two on the way; three great great-grandchildren; a sister, Kathleen and husband, Jerry; sisters-in-law: Diane and husband, Bob; Karen and Kathy; a brother-in-law, Allen; nieces and nephews.