Lura Lawrenz, age 86, of Shorewood, went to be with her Lord and Savior on March 11, 2023, due to complications of dementia.
Lura was born in 1936 near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Fred and Anne Alexander, the fourth of six children. The family moved frequently, living in various places in Kansas and New York State.
She attended the Swedish Covenant Hospital School of Nursing in Chicago, where she met the love of her life, Robert (Bob) Lawrenz. They married in 1958 and started their family in the Chicago area. They moved to Rockford, Illinois, in 1966, raising three children, making lifelong friends, and touching many lives. As her children grew up, she returned to work as a public health nurse and an industrial nurse. As they approached retirement, they moved to Eden Prairie in 2002 to be near their daughters, expanding their circle of friends once again. Lura loved the extra time she could spend with her granddaughters once she moved to Minnesota.
Lura was known for her hospitality. Everyone was welcome for a meal or a stay of any length — family, friends, neighbors, refugees, and international students were frequent visitors. Many women and families benefited from her friendship, mentoring, and care. She was active in church, teaching, leading committees, and doing whatever needed to be done. She and Bob hosted and led many small group Bible studies together. They traveled far and wide, both in the U.S. and internationally.
Lura was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Anne Alexander, beloved husband Bob, brothers Jimmy and John Alexander, and sisters Georgie Kerr and Lyn Ambacher.
She is survived by her three children, Dawn (Paul) Sjolund, Minnetrista, Bill (Yasuko) Lawrenz, Hilo, Hawaii, and Carla Lawrenz, Eden Prairie; grandchildren Marie (Tim) Magnuson, Shari (Andrew) Berndt, Kiersten (Nick) Dahm, Brynn Lawrenz and Robert Lawrenz; seven great-grandchildren; brother Paul Alexander, sister-in-law Judy Alexander, and dear nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life will be held Thursday, July 6, at 11 a.m. at Wooddale Church in Eden Prairie. Lunch to follow. The service will be livestreamed. Memorials preferred to Connexions International, 3300 University Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414.
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