William D. Lawrence

William D. Lawrence, 85, of St. Edward, NE passed away Wednesday, June 30, 2021 at his home in St. Edward, NE.

Funeral Services will be 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, July 6, 2021 at the United Methodist Church, St. Edward, NE with Rev. Mick Goc officiating.  Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery, St. Edward, NE with Military Rites conducted by Crosier American Legion Post #226 of St. Edward, NE, the Air Force Funeral Honor Guard, and the American Legion Riders. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Monday at the church.

Miller-Levander Funeral Home in St. Edward, NE is in charge of arrangements.

William Dale Lawrence, the son of Loris Eldred (Shorty) and Pearl Marie (Thayer) Lawrence was born on April 10, 1936, on a farm near Primrose, NE.  He attended country school until the 8 ^th grade.

On December 30, 1954, Bill enlisted in the United States Air Force.  While stationed in England he met Ruby Lorna Swain and they were married on March 22, 1958.  The couple had their first daughter Tina while living in England.  Bill was transferred to Randolph Air Force Base in Texas, where they had their children Ruby and Dale. They then moved to Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina before moving to St. Edward, NE.  Bill carried out a 20 year career in the Air Force.  He worked as a Flight Simulator Tech and Radio Repairman.  He then continued in the Civil Service for a few more years.  Following his discharge, he drove truck for Werner Trucking in St. Edward and later owned and operated Gene and Bill's Repair Shop.  He was very talented and could fix anything.

In his free time Bill enjoyed skeet shooting, fishing and spending time with his family.  In 1958, he helped start an annual 4 ^th of July skeet shoot with relatives and family which still continues.  Bill was always tinkering with things and enjoyed helping repair things for his friends and family.

Bill is survived by his wife Ruby of St. Edward, NE; three children: Ruby (David) Sindelar of St. Edward, NE; Dale (Verna) Lawrence of Ashland, NE; James (Kristen) Lawrence of St. Edward, NE: 17 grandchildren: Trent (Jaime) Sindelar of St. Edward, NE; Travis (Sadie) Sindelar of Genoa, NE; Trevor (Bonnie) Sindelar of Cortland, NE; Lorena Alvarez of California; Logan Lawrence of Genoa, NE; Tyler Anderson of Ashland, NE; William and Eleanor Lawrence of St. Edward, NE; Geno Anaya of Columbus, NE; Jimmy Schumaker of Lincoln, NE: Grace, Cecilia, and Claire Tebor of St. Edward, NE; Lee (Jason) Ackley of Lincoln, NE; Lisa (Robert) Malloy of Bellevue, NE; Mitchell Patzel of Texas; Mariah Bissett, 17 great-grandchildren: Skyelar, Trinity, Triton, Bentley, Brynlee, Savannah, and Archer Sindelar; Kirah and Kaden Ackley; Emma Chandler, Hunter, and Titus Malloy; Olivia Patzel, Harper and Jaxson Bissett; Gage, Autumn, and Willow Gasper; five sisters: Dorothy Galitz, Janet Stultz, and Deloris Buettner of St. Edward, NE; Patricia Lawrence of Estes Park, CO; Bobbi Jo (Terry) Carmen of St. Edward, NE; along with many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents; daughter Tina Patzel; granddaughter Tiffany Gasper; brothers-in-law: Stanley Stultz, Gene Galitz, and Henry Buettner.